Abstract
N(6)-methyladenosine (m(6)A) is a well-known post-transcriptional modification that is the most common type of methylation in eukaryotic mRNAs. The regulation of m(6)A is dynamic and reversible, which is erected by m(6)A methyltransferases ("writers") and removed by m(6)A demethylases ("erasers"). Notably, the effects on targeted mRNAs resulted by m(6)A predominantly depend on the functions of different m(6)A-binding proteins ("readers") including YT521-B homology (YTH) domain family, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (HNRNPs), and insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BPs). Indeed, m(6)A readers not only participate in multiple procedures of RNA metabolism, but also are involved in a variety of biological processes. In this review, we summarized the specific functions and underlying mechanisms of m(6)A-binding proteins in tumorigenesis, hematopoiesis, virus replication, immune response, and adipogenesis.