Similar to epigenetic DNA and histone modifications, epitranscriptomic modifications (RNA modifications) have emerged as crucial regulators in temporal and spatial gene expression during eukaryotic development. To date, over 170 diverse types of chemical modifications have been identified upon RNA nucleobases. Some of these post-synthesized modifications can be reversibly installed, removed, and decoded by their specific cellular components and play critical roles in different biological processes. Accordingly, dysregulation of RNA modification effectors is tightly orchestrated with developmental processes. Here, we particularly focus on three well-studied RNA modifications, including N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A), 5-methylcytosine (m⁵C), and N¹-methyladenosine (m¹A), and summarize recent knowledge of underlying mechanisms and critical roles of these RNA modifications in stem cell fate determination, embryonic development, and cancer progression, providing a better understanding of the whole association between epitranscriptomic regulation and mammalian development.

与表观遗传 DNA 和组蛋白修饰类似，表观转录组修饰（RNA 修饰）已成为真核生物发育过程中时间和空间基因表达的关键调节因子。迄今为止，已在 RNA 核碱基上鉴定出 170 多种不同类型的化学修饰。其中一些合成后修饰可以通过其特定的细胞成分可逆地安装、移除和解码，并在不同的生物过程中发挥关键作用。因此，RNA 修饰效应器的失调与发育过程密切相关。在这里，我们特别关注三种经过充分研究的 RNA 修饰，包括N ⁶ -甲基腺苷 (m ⁶ A)、5-甲基胞嘧啶 (m ⁵ C) 和N ¹ -甲基腺苷 (m ¹ A)，并总结了这些 RNA 修饰在干细胞命运决定、胚胎发育和癌症进展中的潜在机制和关键作用的最新知识，从而更好地理解表观转录组调控与哺乳动物之间的整体关联发展。