Project description:Chemical modification of RNAs is important for post-transcriptional gene regulation. The METTL3-METTL14 complex generates most N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications in mRNAs, and dysregulated methyltransferase expression has been linked to numerous cancers. Here we show that m6A modification location, rather than the overall modification level, can impact oncogenesis. A gain-of-function missense mutation found in cancer patients, METTL14R298P, promotes malignant cell growth in culture and in transgenic mice. The mutant methyltransferase preferentially modifies noncanonical sites and transforms gene expression without increasing global m6A levels in mRNAs. The altered substrate specificity is intrinsic to METTL3-METTL14, helping us to propose a structural model for how the METTL3-METTL14 complex detects RNA sequences. Together, our work highlights that m6A location is important for function and that noncanonical methylation sites may impact aberrant gene expression and oncogenesis.
Project description:Chemical modification of RNAs is important for post-transcriptional gene regulation. The METTL3-METTL14 complex generates most N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications in mRNAs, and dysregulated methyltransferase expression has been linked to cancers. Here we show that a changed sequence context for m6A can promote oncogenesis. A gain-of-function missense mutation from cancer patients, METTL14R298P, increases malignant cell growth in culture and transgenic mice, without increasing global m6A levels in mRNAs. The mutant methyltransferase preferentially modifies noncanonical sites containing a GGAU motif, in vitro and in vivo. The m6A in GGAU context is detected by the YTH family of readers similarly to the canonical sites but is demethylated less efficiently by an eraser, ALKBH5. Combining the biochemical and structural data we provide a model for how the cognate RNA sequences are selected for methylation by METTL3-METTL14. Our work highlights that sequence-specific m6A deposition is important and that increased GGAU methylation can promote oncogenesis.
Project description:METTL3 and METTL14 are considered to faithfully form the m6A writing complex in a 1:1 ratio, regulating the fate of mRNA by adding m6A modifications. However, recent studies have shown inconsistent expression and prognostic value of METTL3 and METTL14 in some tumors, suggesting that they may not be faithful in tumors. Pan-cancer analysis based on TCGA data reveals significant differences in expression, function, tumor burden correlation, and immune correlation between METTL3 and METTL14, especially in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Knockdown of METTL3 significantly inhibits the cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo in ESCC EC109 cells, while the impact of METTL14 knockdown on proliferation is limited, and it cannot abolish the expression of METTL3 protein. mRNA-seq results indicate that METTL3 independently regulates the expression of 1615 genes, while only 776 genes are co-regulated by METTL3 and METTL14. Furthermore, through immunofluorescence co-localization, it is observed that METTL3 and METTL14 have certain inconsistencies in cellular localization. HPLC-MS results show that METTL3 independently binds to the Nop56p-associated pre-rRNA complex and mRNA splicing complex, separate from METTL14. Through bioinformatics and various omics studies, we have preliminarily discovered that METTL3 independently regulating tumor cell proliferation, and the participation in mRNA splicing may be a critical molecular mechanism. Our study provides an experimental basis and theoretical foundation for further understanding of the m6A writing complex and tumor therapy targeting METTL3.
Project description:Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) and 14 (METTL14) are core subunits of the methyltransferase complex (MTC) that catalyzes mRNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification. Despite the expanding list of m6A-dependent function of the MTC, m6A independent function of the METTL3 and METTL14 complex remains poorly understood. Here we show that genome-wide redistribution of METTL3 and METTL14 drives senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in a m6A-independent manner. METTL3 and METTL14 are necessary for SASP. However, SASP is not regulated by m6A mRNA modification. METTL14 is redistributed to the enhancers, while METTL3 is localized to the pre-existing NF-B sites within the promoters of the SASP genes during senescence. METTL3 interacts with NF-B and they are mutually dependent on their associations with the promoters of SASP genes. METTL14 but not METTL3 is necessary for function of SASP gene enhancers. METTL3 and METTL14 are required for both the tumor-promoting and immune surveillance functions of senescent cells mediated by SASP in vivo in mouse models. In summary, our results report a m6A independent function of the METTL3 and METTL14 complex in promoting SASP through regulating transcription by genome-wide redistribution of METTL14 to enhancers and METTL3 to promoters of SASP genes during senescence.
Project description:Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) and 14 (METTL14) are core subunits of the methyltransferase complex (MTC) that catalyzes mRNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification. Despite the expanding list of m6A-dependent function of the MTC, m6A independent function of the METTL3 and METTL14 complex remains poorly understood. Here we show that genome-wide redistribution of METTL3 and METTL14 drives senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in a m6A-independent manner. METTL3 and METTL14 are necessary for SASP. However, SASP is not regulated by m6A mRNA modification. METTL14 is redistributed to the enhancers, while METTL3 is localized to the pre-existing NF-B sites within the promoters of the SASP genes during senescence. METTL3 interacts with NF-B and they are mutually dependent on their associations with the promoters of SASP genes. METTL14 but not METTL3 is necessary for function of SASP gene enhancers. METTL3 and METTL14 are required for both the tumor-promoting and immune surveillance functions of senescent cells mediated by SASP in vivo in mouse models. In summary, our results report a m6A independent function of the METTL3 and METTL14 complex in promoting SASP through regulating transcription by genome-wide redistribution of METTL14 to enhancers and METTL3 to promoters of SASP genes during senescence.
Project description:Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) and 14 (METTL14) are core subunits of the methyltransferase complex (MTC) that catalyzes mRNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification. Despite the expanding list of m6A-dependent function of the MTC, m6A independent function of the METTL3 and METTL14 complex remains poorly understood. Here we show that genome-wide redistribution of METTL3 and METTL14 drives senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in a m6A-independent manner. METTL3 and METTL14 are necessary for SASP. However, SASP is not regulated by m6A mRNA modification. METTL14 is redistributed to the enhancers, while METTL3 is localized to the pre-existing NF-B sites within the promoters of the SASP genes during senescence. METTL3 interacts with NF-B and they are mutually dependent on their associations with the promoters of SASP genes. METTL14 but not METTL3 is necessary for function of SASP gene enhancers. METTL3 and METTL14 are required for both the tumor-promoting and immune surveillance functions of senescent cells mediated by SASP in vivo in mouse models. In summary, our results report a m6A independent function of the METTL3 and METTL14 complex in promoting SASP through regulating transcription by genome-wide redistribution of METTL14 to enhancers and METTL3 to promoters of SASP genes during senescence.
Project description:Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) and 14 (METTL14) are core subunits of the methyltransferase complex (MTC) that catalyzes mRNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification. Despite the expanding list of m6A-dependent function of the MTC, m6A independent function of the METTL3 and METTL14 complex remains poorly understood. Here we show that genome-wide redistribution of METTL3 and METTL14 drives senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in a m6A-independent manner. METTL3 and METTL14 are necessary for SASP. However, SASP is not regulated by m6A mRNA modification. METTL14 is redistributed to the enhancers, while METTL3 is localized to the pre-existing NF-B sites within the promoters of the SASP genes during senescence. METTL3 interacts with NF-B and they are mutually dependent on their associations with the promoters of SASP genes. METTL14 but not METTL3 is necessary for function of SASP gene enhancers. METTL3 and METTL14 are required for both the tumor-promoting and immune surveillance functions of senescent cells mediated by SASP in vivo in mouse models. In summary, our results report a m6A independent function of the METTL3 and METTL14 complex in promoting SASP through regulating transcription by genome-wide redistribution of METTL14 to enhancers and METTL3 to promoters of SASP genes during senescence.
Project description:Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) and 14 (METTL14) are core subunits of the methyltransferase complex (MTC) that catalyzes mRNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification. Despite the expanding list of m6A-dependent function of the MTC, m6A independent function of the METTL3 and METTL14 complex remains poorly understood. Here we show that genome-wide redistribution of METTL3 and METTL14 drives senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in a m6A-independent manner. METTL3 and METTL14 are necessary for SASP. However, SASP is not regulated by m6A mRNA modification. METTL14 is redistributed to the enhancers, while METTL3 is localized to the pre-existing NF-B sites within the promoters of the SASP genes during senescence. METTL3 interacts with NF-B and they are mutually dependent on their associations with the promoters of SASP genes. METTL14 but not METTL3 is necessary for function of SASP gene enhancers. METTL3 and METTL14 are required for both the tumor-promoting and immune surveillance functions of senescent cells mediated by SASP in vivo in mouse models. In summary, our results report a m6A independent function of the METTL3 and METTL14 complex in promoting SASP through regulating transcription by genome-wide redistribution of METTL14 to enhancers and METTL3 to promoters of SASP genes during senescence.
Project description:Spermatogenesis is precisely controlled at the transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and translational levels. Here we report that N6-methyladenosine (m6A), an epitranscriptomic mark regulating gene expression, plays essential roles during spermatogenesis. We present comprehensive m6A mRNA methylomes of mouse spermatogenic cells from five developmental stages: undifferentiated spermatogonia, type A1 spermatogonia, preleptotene spermatocytes, pachytene/diplotene spermatocytes, and round spermatids. Germ cell-specific inactiva- tion of the m6A RNA methyltransferase Mettl3 or Mettl14 with Vasa-Cre causes loss of m6A and depletion of SSCs. m6A depletion dysregulates translation of transcripts that are required for SSC proliferation/differentiation. Com- bined deletion of Mettl3 and Mettl14 in advanced germ cells with Stra8-GFPCre disrupts spermiogenesis, whereas mice with single deletion of either Mettl3 or Mettl14 in advanced germ cells show normal spermatogenesis. The sper- matids from double-mutant mice exhibit impaired translation of haploid-specific genes that are essential for spermio- genesis. This study highlights crucial roles of mRNA m6A modification in germline development, potentially ensuring coordinated translation at different stages of spermatogenesis.
Project description:SETD2 is the specific methyltransferase of H3K36me3, while METTL3, METTL14 and WTAP are the components of m6A methyltransferase complex. To understand the global effect of H3K36me3 on m6A modification, we compared the m6A profiling in SETD2 and METTL3, METTL14 or WTAP knockdown HepG2 cells, and found depletion of H3K36me3 by SETD2 silencing globally reduced m6A in human transcriptome. What’s more, most of the SETD2-dependent hypomethylation sites also responded to knockdown of METTL3, METTL14, or WTAP.