METTL3 plays multiple functions in biological processes

Shuiping Liu; Lvjia Zhuo; Jianjun Wang; Qin Zhang; Qiujie Li; Guohua Li; Lili Yan; Ting Jin; Ting Pan; Xinbing Sui; Qun Lv; Tian Xie

METTL3 plays multiple functions in biological processes

Am J Cancer Res. 2020 Jun 1;10(6):1631-1646. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Shuiping Liu^{1

2}, Lvjia Zhuo^{1

2}, Jianjun Wang¹, Qin Zhang^{1

2}, Qiujie Li^{1

2}, Guohua Li^{1

2}, Lili Yan^{1

2}, Ting Jin^{1

2}, Ting Pan^{1

2}, Xinbing Sui^{1

2}, Qun Lv¹, Tian Xie^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Holistic Integrative Pharmacy Institutes of Medicine School, Department of Respiratory Medicine of Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University Hangzhou 311121, Zhejiang, China.
² Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicine of Zhejiang Province & Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Zhejiang Province & Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines from Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University Hangzhou 311121, Zhejiang, China.

PMID: 32642280
PMCID: PMC7339281

Abstract

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most common internal modification of mRNAs in higher eukaryotic. This process is performed by methyltransferase. Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) is the best known m⁶A methyltransferase that functions in the reversible epi-transcriptome modulation of m⁶A modification. Besides acting as a m⁶A methyltransferase, METTL3 also regulates mRNA translation and other biological processes. In recent years, studies have identified numerous roles and molecular mechanisms associated with METTL3 in multiple biological processes. However, these findings have not been summarized. In this review, we have systematically summarized the most recent important roles of METTL3 in various biological processes, including cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell migration and invasion, cell differentiation and inflammatory response. In addition, we discuss the prospect of using a METTL3 as a new diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for human cancers.

Keywords: METTL3; biological process; cancer therapy; diagnostic biomarker; m6A modification.

Publication types

Review