Abstract:
N
6-methyladenosine (m
6A) modification is the most abundant form of methylation modification in eukaryotic mRNA and plays an important role in mRNA splicing, degradation, and translation. m
6A modification can affect the normal activities of cells and organisms, including sex determination. Previous works suggest that components of m
6A methyltransferase (Writers) and m
6A binding protein (Readers) participate in sex determination in
Drosophila by regulating alternative splicing of
Sxl mRNA; the absence of Writers and Readers component causes male characteristics on female
Drosophila. m
6A modification is found to affect gonad development and sex differentiation in chicken and flounder; this suggests that m
6A modification regulation of sex determination are universal in nature. Further works may be needed to explore regulatory mechanism of m
6A modification in sex determination.