RNA methylation modifications in neurodegenerative diseases: Focus on their enzyme system

Abstract

Background: Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) constitute a significant public health challenge, as they are increasingly contributing to global mortality and morbidity, particularly among the elderly population. Pathogenesis of NDs is intricate and multifactorial. Recently, post-transcriptional modifications (PTMs) of RNA, with a particular focus on mRNA methylation, have been gaining increasing attention. At present, several regulatory genes associated with mRNA methylation have been identified and closely associated with neurodegenerative disorders.

Aim of review: This review aimed to summarize the RNA methylation enzymes system, including the writer, reader, and eraser proteins and delve into their functions in the central nervous system (CNS), hoping to open new avenues for exploring the mechanisms and therapeutic strategies for NDs.

Key scientific concepts of review: Recently, studies have highlighted the critical role of RNA methylation in the development and function of the CNS, and abnormalities in this process may contribute to brain damage and NDs, aberrant expression of enzymes involved in RNA methylation has been implicated in the onset and development of NDs.

Keywords: Enzyme; Neurodegenerative diseases; Post-transcriptional modification; RNA methylation.