The cardiac methylome: A hidden layer of RNA modifications to regulate gene expression

Post-transcriptional RNA modification has been observed in all kingdoms of life and more than a hundred different types of RNA modifications decorate the chemical and topological properties of these ribose nucleotides. These RNA modifications can potentially alter the RNA structure and also affect the binding affinity of proteins, thus regulating the mRNA stability as well as translation. Emerging evidence suggest that these modifications are not static, but are dynamic; vary upon different cues and are cell-type or tissue-specific. The cardiac transcriptome is not exceptional to such RNA modifications and is enriched with the abundant base methylation such as N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and also 2’-O-Methylation (Nm). In this review we will focus on the technologies available to map these modifications and as well as the contribution of these post-transcriptional modifications during various pathological conditions of the heart. [Display omitted] •RNA modification can alter the physio-chemical landscape of the nucleotides they exist.•N6-adenosine methylation (m6A) and 2’-O-methylations (Nm) exists in a variety of RNA and alter their biological function.•Modulation of m6A “writer” and “eraser” proteins can potentially change the outcome of cardiac manifestation.•Nm modifications are developmentally regulated and can alter the translational landscape of mRNAs in the heart.