Comprehensive analysis of differences of N6-methyladenosine RNA methylomes between high-fat-fed and normal mouse livers

Aim: To assess the m(6)A methylome in mouse fatty liver induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). Materials & methods: MeRIP-seq was performed to identify differences in the m(6)A methylomes between the normal liver and fatty liver induced by an HFD. Results: As compared with the control group, the upmethylated coding genes upon feeding an HFD were primarily enriched in processes associated with lipid metabolism, while genes with downmethylation were enriched in processes associated with metabolism and translation. Furthermore, many RNA-binding proteins that potentially bind to differentially methylated m(6)A sites were mainly annotated in processes of RNA splicing. Conclusion: These findings suggest that differential m(6)A methylation may act on functional genes through RNA-binding proteins to regulate the metabolism of lipids in fatty liver disease.