# Control of gene expression in neural stem cells by crosstalk between messenger RNA methylation and histone modification

> **NIH NIH R01** · SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE · 2022 · $390,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Emerging evidence suggests that the post-transcriptional messenger RNA (mRNA) modification N6-
methyladenosine (m6A) is a fundamental mRNA regulatory mechanism. This modification tags thousands of
mRNAs and regulates their activities through diverse mechanisms. Phenotypes seen following knockout of
m6A methyltransferases in mouse or human neural stem cells (NSCs) support the idea that the modification is
required for proper NSC activity and for brain development.
 We recently discovered crosstalk between m6A and histone post-transcriptional modifications (PTMs) in
NSCs. Specifically, we reported a dual function of m6A in regulating both active and repressive histone PTMs,
and showed that these histone PTMs target different functional classes of NSC genes to keep NSCs at ground
state. In this application, we continue to use NSCs as a model system in order to investigate molecular
mechanisms underlying m6A regulation of histone PTMs. We will ask whether m6A modulates expression of
histone-modifying enzymes (Aim 1), or regulates binding of histone-modifying enzymes to RNA and/or
chromatin (Aim 2).
 This work will guide future investigation of interactions between RNA- and histone- modifications. In
addition, since m6A mRNA modification represents a fundamental gene regulatory mechanism in development
and is perturbed in some human neurological diseases and cancers, mechanistic analysis of m6A function
could significantly advance our understanding of normal development and provide a basis for future
investigation of m6A dysregulation in human diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10408701
- **Project number:** 5R01GM132292-04
- **Recipient organization:** SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Anindya Bagchi
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $390,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10408701

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10408701, Control of gene expression in neural stem cells by crosstalk between messenger RNA methylation and histone modification (5R01GM132292-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10408701. Licensed CC0.

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