Quantification and mapping of RNA modifications

Abstract

In addition to the four canonical nucleobases, RNA molecules undergo various chemical modifications. To date, more than 170 structurally diverse RNA modifications have been discovered across all three domains of life. These RNA modifications play crucial roles in a wide range of biological processes, such as regulating gene expression, maintaining RNA stability, and facilitating protein translation. With the advancements in technology, the field of RNA epitranscriptomics has witnessed remarkable progress in recent years. Consequently, deciphering the functions of RNA modifications has become a topic of great interest. This review aims to provide an overview of recent advances in the analytical techniques used to study RNA modifications, including quantification, locus-specific detection, and mapping analysis through high-throughput sequencing. The advancements in these analytical methods for RNA modifications are summarized, highlighting their underlying principles, strengths, and limitations.