Reading m6A in the Transcriptome: m6A-Binding Proteins

N-6-Methyladenosine (m(6)A) is the most prevalent post-transcriptional modification of eukaryotic mRNA and long noncoding RNA. m(6)A mediates its effects primarily by recruiting proteins, including the multiprotein eukaryotic initiation factor 3 complex and a set of proteins that contain the YTH domain. Here we describe the mechanisms by which YTH domain-containing proteins bind m(6)A and influence the fate of m(6)A-containing RNA in mammalian cells. We discuss the diverse, and occasionally contradictory, functions ascribed to these proteins and the emerging concepts that are influencing our understanding of these proteins and their effects on the epitranscriptome.