A role for gut microbiota in m6A epitranscriptomic mRNA modifications in different host tissues

Abstract

The intestinal microbiota modulates host physiology and gene expression via mechanisms that are not fully understood. A recently discovered layer of gene expression regulation is N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of mRNA. To unveil if this epitranscriptomic mark in part mediates the impact of the gut microbiota on the host, we analyzed m6A-modifications in transcripts of mice displaying either a conventional, or a modified, or no gut flora. We discovered that the microbiota has a strong influence on m6A-modifications in the cecum, and also, albeit to a lesser extent, in the liver. We furthermore show that a single commensal bacterium, Akkermansia muciniphila, can affect specific m6A modifications. Together, we report here epitranscriptomic modifications as an unexpected level of interaction in the complex interplay between commensal bacteria and their host.