Reviews & Comment

Reading, writing and erasing mRNA methylation

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most abundant mRNA internal modification. The recent mapping of m⁶A has provided insights into which and how mRNAs are modified, how m⁶A affects gene expression and how it is linked to cellular differentiation, cancer progression and other biological processes.

Sara Zaccara,
Ryan J. Ries &
Samie R. Jaffrey

Review Article | 13 Sep 2019 | Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

The diverse roles of DNA methylation in mammalian development and disease

DNA methylation is essential for mammalian embryogenesis owing to its repression of transposons and genes, but it is also associated with gene activation. The recent use of sensitive technologies has revealed that DNA methylation dynamics vary considerably between embryonic, germline and somatic cell development, with implications for genetic diseases and cancer.

Maxim V. C. Greenberg &
Deborah Bourc’his

Review Article | 9 Aug 2019 | Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

The regulation, functions and clinical relevance of arginine methylation

The methylation of arginine residues regulates gene expression, DNA repair, growth factor signalling and liquid–liquid phase separation. Targeting this modification can thus be therapeutically relevant and inhibitors of arginine methylation are being tested in clinical trials, especially for neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.

Ernesto Guccione &
Stéphane Richard

Review Article | 26 Jul 2019 | Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

The roles of DNA, RNA and histone methylation in ageing and cancer

The dynamic methylation of chromatin components — DNA, histones and RNA — is crucial in development, ageing and cancer. Therapies that target regulators of DNA and histone methylation in cancer have recently been developed. These promising therapies, which include strategies that may improve tumour immune surveillance, are already being tested in early-phase clinical trials.

Ewa M. Michalak,
Marian L. Burr ⋯
Mark A. Dawson

Review Article | 3 Jul 2019 | Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

Roles and regulation of histone methylation in animal development

Histone methylation regulates gene expression throughout animal development, governing processes as diverse as cell fate decisions, lineage specification, body patterning and organogenesis. Better understanding of the complex, context-specific roles of histone methylation in development will shed new light on the aetiology of developmental disorders.

Ashwini Jambhekar,
Abhinav Dhall &
Yang Shi

Review Article | 2 Jul 2019 | Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

The importance of non-histone protein methylation in cancer therapy

Rodríguez-Paredes and Lyko argue that non-histone proteins should be considered when assessing cancer drugs that target protein methylation.

Manuel Rodríguez-Paredes &
Frank Lyko

Comment | 3 Jul 2019 | Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology