Nascent RNA m6A modification at the heart of the gene-retrotransposon conflict

Retrotransposons are highly abundant mobile genetic elements in mammalian genomes and can interfere with many genomic processes, particularly the transcription of genes. A study by Xiong et al. reveals that segments of nascent RNAs containing retrotransposons are enriched in N-6-methyladenosine and act as transcriptional roadblocks for elongating RNA polymerase II, but that cellular proteins capable of binding to these RNAs, SAFB/SAFB2, can mitigate this effect.

Automated summary

Retrotransposons, abundant mobile genetic elements in mammalian genomes, can interfere with genomic processes such as gene transcription. A study shows that segments of nascent RNAs containing retrotransposons are enriched in N-6-methyladenosine and act as transcriptional roadblocks, but cellular proteins SAFB/SAFB2 can alleviate this effect.