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Review
. 2024 May 24;22(1):490.
doi: 10.1186/s12967-024-05293-6.

The biological function of the N6-Methyladenosine reader YTHDC2 and its role in diseases

Xudong Wu  1 , Hui Chen  1 , Kai Li  1 , Hong Zhang  1 , Kai Li  2 , Haoyu Tan  3
Affiliations
Review

The biological function of the N6-Methyladenosine reader YTHDC2 and its role in diseases

Xudong Wu et al. J Transl Med. .

Abstract

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) stands as the most prevalent modified form of RNA in eukaryotes, pivotal in various biological processes such as regulating RNA stability, translation, and transcription. All members within the YT521-B homology (YTH) gene family are categorized as m6A reading proteins, capable of identifying and binding m6A modifications on RNA, thereby regulating RNA metabolism and functioning across diverse physiological processes. YTH domain-containing 2 (YTHDC2), identified as the latest member of the YTH family, has only recently started to emerge for its biological function. Numerous studies have underscored the significance of YTHDC2 in human physiology, highlighting its involvement in both tumor progression and non-tumor diseases. Consequently, this review aims to further elucidate the pathological mechanisms of YTHDC2 by summarizing its functions and roles in tumors and other diseases, with a particular focus on its downstream molecular targets and signaling pathways.

Keywords: Biomarkers; N6-methyladenosine; Tumor biology; YTHDC2; m6A.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The methylation process of m6A and the role of YTHDC2 in m6A. M6A methylation is involved in a series of enzymes, including m6A methyltransferases and m6A demethylases. YTHDC2 can bind to m6A modified RNA and participate in regulating RNA translation or degradation. Created with BioRender.com
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Structure of YTHDC2 domain and its YTH domain. A. Schematic of human YTHDC2 domain structure. B. Three-dimensional model of the full length human YTHDC2 and its YTH domain. The four basic residues Arg1318, Arg1289, Lys1294, and Arg1401 on the surface of the YTHDC2 YTH domain are crucial for binding to the RNA backbone. The 3D carton was generated with PyMol (http://www.pymol.org)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The target gene of YTHDC2 and its role in tumors. YTHDC2 regulates the expression of multiple genes by recognizing m6A modified RNAs and influencing their fate. In tumors, based on the different target genes of YTHDC2, YTHDC2 can exhibit pro-cancer or anti-cancer effects and participate in regulating the occurrence and development of tumors. The red box represents oncogenes, and the blue box represents tumor suppressor genes. Created with BioRender.com
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