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N6-methyladenosine dynamics in neurodevelopment and aging, and its potential role in Alzheimer's disease
Shafik AM, Zhang F, Guo Z, Dai Q, Pajdzik K, Li Y, Kang Y, Yao B et al.. Genome biology, 2021-01-05
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Background N6-methyladenosine (m 6 A) modification is known to impact many aspects of RNA metabolism, including mRNA stability and translation, and is highly prevalent in the brain. Results We show that m 6 A modification displays temporal and spatial dynamics during neurodevelopment and aging. Genes that are temporally differentially methylated are more prone to have mRNA expression changes and affect many pathways associated with nervous system development.
Key findings
- Results We show that m 6 A modification displays temporal and spatial dynamics during neurodevelopment and aging.
- Genes that are temporally differentially methylated are more prone to have mRNA expression changes and affect many pathways associated with nervous system development.
- Furthermore, m 6 A shows a distinct tissue-specific methylation profile, which is most pronounced in the hypothalamus.
- Tissue-specific methylation is associated with an increase in mRNA expression and is associated with tissue-specific developmental processes.
Why it matters
This study describes how m6A RNA modification changes during brain development and aging and notes a potential role in Alzheimer's disease. It is basic biology and does not test any treatment, cure or prevention.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 51/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Genome biology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Genome biology: journal h-index 389 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 261 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 37.3 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 12.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 133 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Peng Jin: h-index 76 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Chicago: institution h-index 1,769 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33402207) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Shafik, A. M., Zhang, F., Guo, Z., Dai, Q., Pajdzik, K., Li, Y., et al. (2021). N6-methyladenosine dynamics in neurodevelopment and aging, and its potential role in Alzheimer's disease. Genome biology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-020-02249-z
Vancouver
Shafik AM, Zhang F, Guo Z, Dai Q, Pajdzik K, Li Y, et al. N6-methyladenosine dynamics in neurodevelopment and aging, and its potential role in Alzheimer's disease. Genome biology. 2021. doi:10.1186/s13059-020-02249-z. PMID: 33402207.
BibTeX
@article{shafik2021-33402207,
author = {Shafik, A. M. and Zhang, F. and Guo, Z. and Dai, Q. and Pajdzik, K. and Li, Y. and Kang, Y. and Yao, B. and others},
title = {{N6-methyladenosine dynamics in neurodevelopment and aging, and its potential role in Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {Genome biology},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.1186/s13059-020-02249-z},
pmid = {33402207},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-020-02249-z}
}
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