The dynamic RNA modifications have been viewed as new posttranscriptional regulator in modulating gene expression as well as in a broad range of physiological processes. N1-methyladenosine (m1A) is one of the most prevalent modifications existing in multiple types of RNAs. In-depth investigation of the functions of m1A requires the site-specific assessment of m1A stoichiometry in RNA. Herein, we established a demethylase-assisted method (DA-m1A) for the site-specific detection and quantification of m1A in RNA. N1-methyl group in m1A could result in the stalling of reverse transcription at m1A site, thus producing the truncated cDNA. E. coli AlkB is a demethylase that can demethylate m1A to produce adenine in RNA, thus generating full-length cDNA from AlkB-treated RNA. Evaluation of the produced amounts of full-length cDNA by quantitative real-time PCR can achieve the site-specific detection and quantification of m1A in RNA. With the DA-m1A method, we examined and successfully confirmed the previously well-characterized m1A sites in various types of RNAs with low false positive rate. In addition, we found that the level of m1A was significantly decreased at the bromodomain containing 2 (BRD2) mRNA position 1674 and CST telomere replication complex component 1 (CTC1) mRNA position 5643 in human hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. The results suggest that these two m1A sites in mRNA may be involved in liver tumorigenesis. Taken together, the DA-m1A method is simple and enables the rapid, cost-effective, and site-specific detection and quantification of m1A in RNA, which provides a valuable tool to decipher the functions of m1A in human diseases.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |