# N6-Methyladenosine RNA Methylation in Myogenesis

> **NIH NIH R21** · STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT ALBANY · 2021 · $377,520

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The key myogenic processes at the molecular level are incompletely understood, hindering the development of
therapeutic interventions for numerous muscle degenerative diseases. To fill this knowledge gap, we have been
investigating how an emerging mode of post-transcriptional gene regulation known as epitranscriptomics, plays
a role in skeletal myogenesis (myoblast differentiation and muscle regeneration). Epitranscriptomics is a dynamic
process that regulates mRNA stability, splicing, and translation by reversible chemical modifications on mRNAs.
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant epitranscriptomic mark. The m6A epitranscriptomic mark is
installed by methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) and methyltransferase like 14 (METTL14), and erased by
alkylation repair homolog 5 (ALKBH5) and fat mass- and obesity-associated (FTO). A group of reader proteins
selectively recognize m6A-modified mRNAs and control their fates. Our recent studies show that m6A mRNA
methylation regulates myoblast differentiation and skeletal muscle regeneration and that the levels of
epitranscriptomic writers and erasers are tightly regulated during these processes. We also observed changes
in m6A epitranscriptomic marks at the transcriptome-wide level. These studies collectively suggest that m6A
mRNA methylation plays a central role in normal myogenic processes by regulating critical molecular pathways.
Here, we propose to identify molecular players involved in this process and thus gain deeper mechanistic
insights. We will perform an innovative transcriptome-wide analysis to identify direct mRNA targets of m6A
methylation in myogenic processes. Additionally, we will mechanistically characterize a select subset of
prioritized m6A target mRNAs, both previously associated with myogenesis, as well as novel, to examine their
involvement in myogenesis. Our proposed research will make a significant impact by elucidating a fundamental
molecular mechanism of m6A mRNA methylation in the key myogenic processes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10303341
- **Project number:** 1R21AR078526-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT ALBANY
- **Principal Investigator:** Bijan K Dey
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $377,520
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-22 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10303341

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10303341, N6-Methyladenosine RNA Methylation in Myogenesis (1R21AR078526-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10303341. Licensed CC0.

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