A novel m6A reader Prrc2a controls oligodendroglial specification and myelination

While N 6 -methyladenosine (m 6 A), the most abundant internal modification in eukaryotic mRNA, is linked to cell differentiation and tissue development, the biological significance of m 6 A modification in mammalian glial development remains unknown. Here, we identify a novel m 6 A reader, Prrc2a (Proline rich coiled-coil 2 A), which controls oligodendrocyte specification and myelination. Nestin -Cre-mediated knockout of Prrc2a induces significant hypomyelination, decreased lifespan, as well as locomotive and cognitive defects in a mouse model. Further analyses reveal that Prrc2a is involved in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) proliferation and oligodendrocyte fate determination. Accordingly, oligodendroglial-lineage specific deletion of Prrc2a causes a similar phenotype of Nestin -Cre-mediated deletion. Combining transcriptome-wide RNA-seq, m 6 A-RIP-seq and Prrc2a RIP-seq analysis, we find that Olig2 is a critical downstream target gene of Prrc2a in oligodendrocyte development. Furthermore, Prrc2a stabilizes Olig2 mRNA through binding to a consensus GGACU motif in the Olig2 CDS (coding sequence) in an m 6 A-dependent manner. Interestingly, we also find that the m 6 A demethylase, Fto, erases the m 6 A modification of Olig2 mRNA and promotes its degradation. Together, our results indicate that Prrc2a plays an important role in oligodendrocyte specification through functioning as a novel m 6 A reader. These findings suggest a new avenue for the development of therapeutic strategies for hypomyelination-related neurological diseases.