Mammalian DNA N-methyladenosine: Challenges and new insights.

DNA N-methyldeoxyadenosine (6mA) modification was first discovered in Bacterium coli in the 1950s. Over the next several decades, 6mA was recognized as a critical DNA modification in the genomes of prokaryotes and protists. While important in prokaryotes, less is known about the presence and functional roles of DNA 6mA in eukaryotes, particularly in mammals. Taking advantage of recent technology advances that made 6mA detection and sequencing possible, studies over the past several years have brought new insights into 6mA biology in mammals. In this perspective, we present recent progress, discuss challenges, and pose four questions for future research regarding mammalian DNA 6mA.