Characterizing the retinal epitranscriptome in health and disease

Marcus Yong

Advancements in next generation sequencing methods have led to the rapid development of epitranscriptomics, an emerging field focused on RNA modifications, which had previously been underappreciated and underexplored. To date, over 150 RNA modifications have been uncovered in all known RNA species. Among these, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant modification in eukaryotic mRNAs and has been implicated in human disease and ageing. Currently, accumulating evidence suggest an important role for the epitranscriptome within the retina, yet this has not been comprehensively characterized. Therefore, the aim of this project is to uncover the role of the retinal epitranscriptome in regulating vision, with a focus on ALKBH5, an m⁶A demethylase, and its role in age-related macular degeneration.