[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Hereditas(Beijing) ›› 2025, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (8): 903-927.doi: 10.16288/j.yczz.24-373

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Application and prospects of current computational methods in m6A research: a comprehensive review

Dingwei Lei1(), Ruichu Gu2(), Xiaoxue Xie2, Shizhi Ding3, Han Wen3,4,5()   

  1. 1. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
    2. School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
    3. AI for Science Institute, Beijing 100084, China
    4. Beijing Advanced Center of RNA Biology (BEACON), Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
    5. Institute for Advanced Algorithms Research, Shanghai 200125, China
  • Received:2025-02-26 Revised:2025-06-19 Online:2025-06-24 Published:2025-06-24
  • Contact: Han Wen E-mail:dwlei@stu.pku.edu.cn;pkugrc@outlook.com;wenh@aisi.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    Beijing Nova Program(2023111);Shanghai Specialized Program Promoting Industrial Development(2023-GZL-RGZN-01005);Shanghai Action Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation(24JS2820200);National Key R&D Program of China(2023YFC3403200)

Abstract:

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent modification in eukaryotic mRNA, playing a pivotal role in regulating various aspects of mRNA metabolism, including splicing, processing, degradation, and translation. This review provides a comprehensive overview of computational strategies employed in m6A research, with an emphasis on data-driven methodologies for the prediction of m6A sites and molecular dynamics simulations for deciphering m6A-associated biological mechanisms. The article first discusses the evolution of m6A detection technologies, outlines the corresponding data processing methods, and summarizes publicly available datasets that serve as essential resources for constructing computational models. Subsequently, we highlight research advancements in machine learning and deep learning models for m6A site prediction. Finally, we demonstrate the contributions of molecular dynamics simulations in unravelling m6A-related molecular mechanisms, illustrating how computational methods facilitate the understanding of this complex epigenetic regulation. By systematically synthesizing relevant content, this review further discusses the latest research progress and application values of computational methods in m6A modification, offering new perspectives and insights for in-depth investigations.

Key words: N6-methyladenosine modification, modification detection method, modification sites prediction, artificial intelligence algorithm, molecular dynamic simulation