Environmental Epitranscriptomics
Figure Reference: Deng, X., Qing, Y., Horne, D. et al. The roles and implications of RNA m6A modification in cancer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 20, 507–526 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41571-023-00774-x
Epitranscriptomics investigates post-transcriptional modifications of RNA, which control RNA folding, stability, localization, and translation and—based on their location and quantity—produce significant alterations in RNA function. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent mRNA modification in mammals and a key regulator of mRNA stability and translation. M6A modifications and their regulators have been shown to be sensitive to environmental exposures and are important modulators of the stress response in vitro. However, work in human populations is still in the early stages. We were one of the first to demonstrate changes in global m6A modifications in response to smoking and air pollution exposures. We are currently collaborating with the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health (CCCEH), to investigate m6A in the placenta and its relationship with placental metals exposure and child growth outcomes. We also are working with the Strong Heart Study to identify m6A modifications in blood that reflect arsenic exposure and diabetes prevalence.
In the wet lab, we have optimized several qPCR assays to measure key m6A reader, writer and eraser genes. We are further working in collaboration with Dr. Christopher Mason at Weill Cornell Medicine to profile m6A with methylated immunoprecipitation based sequencing and direct RNA sequencing.
Sample Publication
Kupsco A; Gonzalez G; Baker BH; Knox JM; Zheng Y; Wang S; Chang D; Schwartz J; Hou L; Wang Y; Baccarelli AA. Associations of Smoking and Air Pollution with Peripheral Blood RNA N6-methyladenosine in the Beijing Truck Driver Air Pollution Study. Environ. Int. 2020 Nov;144:106021. PMCID: PMC7572654