METTL3 plays a crucial function in multiple biological processes

Guilan Li; Zhanbing Sun; Weihua Deng; Shaoxiong Cheng; Xiuli Liu; Jincheng Liu; Xiaomin Tang; Zhaohui Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.acthis.2022.151916

METTL3 plays a crucial function in multiple biological processes

Acta Histochem. 2022 Aug;124(6):151916. doi: 10.1016/j.acthis.2022.151916. Epub 2022 Jun 22.

Authors

Guilan Li¹, Zhanbing Sun¹, Weihua Deng¹, Shaoxiong Cheng¹, Xiuli Liu¹, Jincheng Liu¹, Xiaomin Tang¹, Zhaohui Zhang²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China; Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazardsa, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.
² Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China; Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazardsa, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China. Electronic address: nhzzh@usc.edu.cn.

PMID: 35752056
DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2022.151916

Abstract

The N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) refers to the methylation of the N6 position of adenosine of RNA adenine. The modification of m⁶A is one of the most abundant epigenetic modifications in eukaryotic mRNA and non-coding RNA and is controlled by methyltransferases and demethylases. The biological mechanism and significance of m⁶A have been discovered with the development of m⁶A sequencing. Various m⁶A complex components regulate the function of m⁶A on mRNA. Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) is one of the earliest identified m⁶A methyltransferases which regulate the functions of m⁶A. A large number of studies have shown that METTL3 establishes a cross-talk with tumor cells and development of various human diseases. In this review, we will briefly elaborate on the role of METTL3 in biological function, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), inflammatory response and sensitivity to the resistance of chemo radiotherapies. The underlying molecular mechanism demonstrated by METTL3 may provide a possible target for treating and diagnosing human diseases.

Keywords: Disease; METTL3; Methyltransferase; m(6)A.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adenosine / metabolism
Biological Phenomena*
Humans
Methylation
Methyltransferases* / genetics
Methyltransferases* / metabolism
RNA, Messenger / metabolism

Substances

RNA, Messenger
Methyltransferases
METTL3 protein, human
Adenosine