Reading the mA-encoded epitranscriptomic information in development and diseases.

N-methyladenosine (mA) represents the most prevalent internal and reversible modification on RNAs. Different cell types display their unique mA profiles, which are determined by the functions of mA writers and erasers. MA modifications lead to different outcomes such as decay, stabilization, or transport of the RNAs. The mA-encoded epigenetic information is interpreted by mA readers and their interacting proteins. MA readers are essential for different biological processes, and the defects in mA readers have been discovered in diverse diseases. Here, we review the latest advances in the roles of mA readers in development and diseases. These recent studies not only highlight the importance of mA readers in regulating cell fate transitions, but also point to the potential application of drugs targeting mA readers in diseases.