Emerging Roles of N6-Methyladenosine Modification in Neurodevelopment and Neurodegeneration

N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A), the most abundant modification in messenger RNAs (mRNAs), is deposited by methyltransferases ("writers") Mettl3 and Mettl14 and erased by demethylases ("erasers") Fto and Alkbh5. m⁶A can be recognized by m⁶A-binding proteins ("readers"), such as Yth domain family proteins (Ythdfs) and Yth domain-containing protein 1 (Ythdc1). Previous studies have indicated that m⁶A plays an essential function in various fundamental biological processes, including neurogenesis and neuronal development. Dysregulated m⁶A modification contributes to neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the roles of m⁶A machinery, including writers, erasers, and readers, in regulating gene expression and the function of m⁶A in neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. We also discuss the perspectives for studying m⁶A methylation.