Discovery of Small Molecules that Activate RNA Methylation through Cooperative Binding to the METTL3-14-WTAP Complex Active Site

Clinical and molecular significance of the RNA m6A methyltransferase complex in prostate cancer

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most abundant internal mRNA modification and is dynamically regulated through distinct protein complexes that methylate, demethylate, and/or interpret the m⁶A modification. These proteins, and the m⁶A modification, are involved in the regulation of gene expression, RNA stability, splicing and translation. Given its role in these crucial processes, m⁶A has been implicated in many diseases, including in cancer development and progression. Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed non-cutaneous cancer in men and recent studies support a role for m⁶A in PCa. Despite this, the literature currently lacks an integrated analysis of the expression of key components of the m⁶A RNA methyltransferase complex, both in PCa patients and in well-established cell line models. For this reason, this study used immunohistochemistry and functional studies to investigate the mechanistic and clinical significance of the METTL3, METTL14, WTAP and CBLL1 components of the m⁶A methyltransferase complex in PCa specimens and cell lines. Expression of METTL3 and CBLL1, but not METTL14 and WTAP, was associated with poorer PCa patient outcomes. Expression of METTL3, METTL14, WTAP and CBLL1 was higher in PCa cells compared with non-malignant prostate cells, with the highest expression seen in castrate-sensitive, androgen-responsive PCa cells. Moreover, in PCa cell lines, expression of METTL3 and WTAP was found to be androgen-regulated. To investigate the mechanistic role(s) of the m⁶A methyltransferase complex in PCa cells, short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated knockdown coupled with next generation sequencing was used to determine the transcriptome-wide roles of METTL3, the catalytic subunit of the m⁶A methyltransferase complex. Functional depletion of METTL3 resulted in upregulation of the androgen receptor (AR), together with 134 AR-regulated genes. METTL3 knockdown also resulted in altered splicing, and enrichment of cell cycle, DNA repair and metabolic pathways. Collectively, this study identified the functional and clinical significance of four essential m⁶A complex components in PCa patient specimens and cell lines for the first time. Further studies are now warranted to determine the potential therapeutic relevance of METTL3 inhibitors in development to treat leukaemia to benefit patients with PCa.

Elucidating the Kinetic Mechanism of Human METTL16

Methyltransferase-like protein 16 (METTL16) is one of four catalytically active, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent m⁶A RNA methyltransferases in humans. Well-known methylation targets of METTL16 are U6 small nuclear RNA (U6 snRNA) and the MAT2A mRNA hairpins; however, METTL16 binds to other RNAs, including the 3' triple helix of the metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1). Herein, we investigated the kinetic mechanism and biochemical properties of METTL16. METTL16 is a monomer in complex with either the MALAT1 triple helix or U6 snRNA and binds to these RNAs with respective dissociation constants of 31 nM and 18 nM, whereas binding to the methylated U6 snRNA product is 1.1 μM. The MALAT1 triple helix, on the other hand, is not methylated by METTL16 under in vitro conditions. Using the U6 snRNA to study methylation steps, preincubation and isotope partitioning assays indicated an ordered-sequential mechanism, whereby METTL16 binds U6 snRNA before SAM. The apparent dissociation constant for the METTL16·U6 snRNA·SAM ternary complex is 126 μM. Steady-state kinetic assays established a k_cat of 0.07 min^-1, and single-turnover assays established a k_chem of 0.56 min^-1. Furthermore, the methyltransferase domain of METTL16 methylated U6 snRNA with an apparent dissociation constant of 736 μM and a k_chem of 0.42 min^-1, suggesting that the missing vertebrate conserved regions weaken the ternary complex but do not induce any rate-limiting conformational rearrangements of the U6 snRNA. This study helps us to better understand the catalytic activity of METTL16 in the context of its biological functions.

Biological and pharmacological roles of m6A modifications in cancer drug resistance

Cancer drug resistance represents the main obstacle in cancer treatment. Drug-resistant cancers exhibit complex molecular mechanisms to hit back therapy under pharmacological pressure. As a reversible epigenetic modification, N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) RNA modification was regarded to be the most common epigenetic RNA modification. RNA methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers), and m⁶A-binding proteins (readers) are frequently disordered in several tumors, thus regulating the expression of oncoproteins, enhancing tumorigenesis, cancer proliferation, development, and metastasis. The review elucidated the underlying role of m⁶A in therapy resistance. Alteration of the m⁶A modification affected drug efficacy by restructuring multidrug efflux transporters, drug-metabolizing enzymes, and anticancer drug targets. Furthermore, the variation resulted in resistance by regulating DNA damage repair, downstream adaptive response (apoptosis, autophagy, and oncogenic bypass signaling), cell stemness, tumor immune microenvironment, and exosomal non-coding RNA. It is highlighted that several small molecules targeting m⁶A regulators have shown significant potential for overcoming drug resistance in different cancer categories. Further inhibitors and activators of RNA m⁶A-modified proteins are expected to provide novel anticancer drugs, delivering the therapeutic potential for addressing the challenge of resistance in clinical resistance.

N 6-methyladenosine RNA methylation: From regulatory mechanisms to potential clinical applications

Epitranscriptomics has emerged as another level of epigenetic regulation similar to DNA and histone modifications. N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most prevalent and abundant posttranscriptional modifications, widely distributed in many biological species. The level of N 6-methyladenosine RNA methylation is dynamically and reversibly regulated by distinct effectors including methyltransferases, demethylases, histone modification and metabolites. In addition, N 6-methyladenosine RNA methylation is involved in multiple RNA metabolism pathways, such as splicing, localization, translation efficiency, stability and degradation, ultimately affecting various pathological processes, especially the oncogenic and tumor-suppressing activities. Recent studies also reveal that N 6-methyladenosine modification exerts the function in immune cells and tumor immunity. In this review, we mainly focus on the regulatory mechanisms of N 6-methyladenosine RNA methylation, the techniques for detecting N 6-methyladenosine methylation, the role of N 6-methyladenosine modification in cancer and other diseases, and the potential clinical applications.

Small-Molecule Ebselen Binds to YTHDF Proteins Interfering with the Recognition of N 6-Methyladenosine-Modified RNAs

YTHDF proteins bind the N 6-methyladenosine (m6A)-modified mRNAs, influencing their processing, stability, and translation. Therefore, the members of this protein family play crucial roles in gene regulation and several physiological and pathophysiological conditions. YTHDF proteins contain a hydrophobic pocket that accommodates the m6A embedded in the RRACH consensus sequence on mRNAs. We exploited the presence of this cage to set up an m6A-competitive assay and performed a high-throughput screen aimed at identifying ligands binding in the m6A pocket. We report the organoselenium compound ebselen as the first-in-class inhibitor of the YTHDF m6A-binding domain. Ebselen, whose interaction with YTHDF proteins was validated via orthogonal assays, cannot discriminate between the binding domains of the three YTHDF paralogs but can disrupt the interaction of the YTHDF m6A domain with the m6A-decorated mRNA targets. X-ray, mass spectrometry, and NMR studies indicate that in YTHDF1 ebselen binds close to the m6A cage, covalently to the Cys412 cysteine, or interacts reversibly depending on the reducing environment. We also showed that ebselen engages YTHDF proteins within cells, interfering with their mRNA binding. Finally, we produced a series of ebselen structural analogs that can interact with the YTHDF m6A domain, proving that ebselen expansion is amenable for developing new inhibitors. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of drugging the YTH domain in YTHDF proteins and opens new avenues for the development of disruptors of m6A recognition.

Autophagy induction promoted by m6A reader YTHDF3 through translation upregulation of FOXO3 mRNA

Autophagy is crucial for maintaining cellular energy homeostasis and for cells to adapt to nutrient deficiency, and nutrient sensors regulating autophagy have been reported previously. However, the role of eiptranscriptomic modifications such as m⁶A in the regulation of starvation-induced autophagy is unclear. Here, we show that the m⁶A reader YTHDF3 is essential for autophagy induction. m⁶A modification is up-regulated to promote autophagosome formation and lysosomal degradation upon nutrient deficiency. METTL3 depletion leads to a loss of functional m⁶A modification and inhibits YTHDF3-mediated autophagy flux. YTHDF3 promotes autophagy by recognizing m⁶A modification sites around the stop codon of FOXO3 mRNA. YTHDF3 also recruits eIF3a and eIF4B to facilitate FOXO3 translation, subsequently initiating autophagy. Overall, our study demonstrates that the epitranscriptome regulator YTHDF3 functions as a nutrient responder, providing a glimpse into the post-transcriptional RNA modifications that regulate metabolic homeostasis.

The role of N6-methyladenosine methylation in environmental exposure-induced health damage

The health risks caused by environmental pollution have long been of substantial concern. With the development of epigenetics, a large number of studies have demonstrated that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is involved in the regulation of various important life activities associated with various diseases. Recent studies have revealed that m6A plays a key role in health damage caused by environmental exposure by regulating post-transcriptional gene expression. Therefore, our study outlined the effects of environmental pollutant exposure on m6A methylation and its regulator levels. Moreover, we found that m6A methylation modifications were involved in the development of various health damages by regulating important life activities in vivo, such as reactive oxygen species imbalance, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and inflammatory processes. More importantly, we delved into the regulatory mechanisms of m6A methylation dysregulation in environmental pollution-induced diseases. Finally, by examining the published literature, we found that methyltransferase-like protein 3 (METTL3) and fat mass- and obesity-associated protein (FTO) were potentially used as biomarkers of health damage induced by particulate matter exposure and heavy metal exposure, respectively. The current studies on regulators of METTL3 and FTO were more promising to bring new perspectives for the treatment of environmental health-related diseases.

Emerging role of N6-methyladenosine RNA methylation in lung diseases

In recent years, with the increase of air pollution, smoking, aging, and respiratory infection, the incidence rate and mortality of lung diseases are increasing annually, which has become a major hazard to human health. N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) RNA methylation is the most abundant modifications in eukaryotes, and such modified RNA can be specifically recognized and combined by m⁶A recognition proteins and then mediate RNA splicing, maturation, enucleation, degradation, and translation. More and more studies have revealed that the m⁶A modification is involved in the pathogenesis and development of some diseases; however, the mechanisms of m⁶A in lung diseases are poorly understood. In this review, we summarize the latest progress in the biological function of m⁶A modifications in lung diseases and discuss the potential therapeutic and prognostic strategies. The dysregulation of global m⁶A levels and m⁶A regulators may affect the occurrence and development of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and other lung diseases through inflammation and immune function. In lung cancer, this modification has an important impact on malignant cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and drug resistance. In addition, abnormally changed m⁶A-modified proteins in lung cancer tissue samples and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may be used as diagnostic and prognostic markers of lung cancer. Models composed of multiple m⁶A regulators can be used to evaluate the risk prediction or prognosis of asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. In general, the in-depth study of m⁶A modifications is a frontier direction in disease research. It provides novel insights for understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying disease occurrence, development, and drug resistance, as well as for the development of effective novel therapeutics.

The emerging therapeutic target of dynamic and reversible N6-methyladenosine modification during cancer development

As a reversible and dynamic epigenetic modification, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is ubiquitous in eukaryotic cells. m6A methylation is prevalent in almost all RNA metabolism processes that affect the fate of cells, including cancer development. As indicated by the available evidence, targeting m6A regulators may play a crucial role in tumor therapy and multidrug resistance. Currently, many questions remain uncovered. Here, we review recent studies on m6A modification in various aspects of tumor progression, tumor immunity, multidrug resistance, and therapeutic targets to provide new insight into the m6A methylation process.

Emerging roles of the RNA modifications N6-methyladenosine and adenosine-to-inosine in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases lead the mortality and morbidity disease metrics worldwide. A multitude of chemical base modifications in ribonucleic acids (RNAs) have been linked with key events of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. Named either RNA epigenetics or epitranscriptomics, the post-transcriptional RNA modifications, their regulatory pathways, components, and downstream effects substantially contribute to the ways our genetic code is interpreted. Here we review the accumulated discoveries to date regarding the roles of the two most common epitranscriptomic modifications, N6-methyl-adenosine (m6A) and adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing, in cardiovascular disease.

The roles and mechanisms of epigenetic regulation in pathological myocardial remodeling

Pathological myocardial remodeling was still one of the leading causes of death worldwide with an unmet therapeutic need. A growing number of researchers have addressed the role of epigenome changes in cardiovascular diseases, paving the way for the clinical application of novel cardiovascular-related epigenetic targets in the future. In this review, we summarized the emerged advances of epigenetic regulation, including DNA methylation, Histone posttranslational modification, Adenosine disodium triphosphate (ATP)-dependent chromatin remodeling, Non-coding RNA, and RNA modification, in pathological myocardial remodeling. Also, we provided an overview of the mechanisms that potentially involve the participation of these epigenetic regulation.

Crosstalk among m6A RNA methylation, hypoxia and metabolic reprogramming in TME: from immunosuppressive microenvironment to clinical application

The tumor microenvironment (TME), which is regulated by intrinsic oncogenic mechanisms and epigenetic modifications, has become a research hotspot in recent years. Characteristic features of TME include hypoxia, metabolic dysregulation, and immunosuppression. One of the most common RNA modifications, N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) methylation, is widely involved in the regulation of physiological and pathological processes, including tumor development. Compelling evidence indicates that m⁶A methylation regulates transcription and protein expression through shearing, export, translation, and processing, thereby participating in the dynamic evolution of TME. Specifically, m⁶A methylation-mediated adaptation to hypoxia, metabolic dysregulation, and phenotypic shift of immune cells synergistically promote the formation of an immunosuppressive TME that supports tumor proliferation and metastasis. In this review, we have focused on the involvement of m⁶A methylation in the dynamic evolution of tumor-adaptive TME and described the detailed mechanisms linking m⁶A methylation to change in tumor cell biological functions. In view of the collective data, we advocate treating TME as a complete ecosystem in which components crosstalk with each other to synergistically achieve tumor adaptive changes. Finally, we describe the potential utility of m⁶A methylation-targeted therapies and tumor immunotherapy in clinical applications and the challenges faced, with the aim of advancing m⁶A methylation research.

Emerging Role of Epitranscriptomics in Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and its related complications are among the leading causes of disability and mortality worldwide. Substantial studies have explored epigenetic regulation that is involved in the modifications of DNA and proteins, but RNA modifications in diabetes are still poorly investigated. In recent years, posttranscriptional epigenetic modification of RNA (the so-called 'epitranscriptome') has emerged as an interesting field of research. Numerous modifications, mainly N6 -methyladenosine (m6A), have been identified in nearly all types of RNAs and have been demonstrated to have an indispensable effect in a variety of human diseases, such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Therefore, it is particularly important to understand the molecular basis of RNA modifications, which might provide a new perspective for the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and the discovery of new therapeutic targets. In this review, we aim to summarize the recent progress in the epitranscriptomics involved in diabetes and diabetes-related complications. We hope to provide some insights for enriching the understanding of the epitranscriptomic regulatory mechanisms of this disease as well as the development of novel therapeutic targets for future clinical benefit.

Structure, dynamics, and molecular inhibition of the Staphylococcus aureus m1A22-tRNA methyltransferase TrmK

The enzyme m¹A22-tRNA methyltransferase (TrmK) catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group to the N1 of adenine 22 in bacterial tRNAs. TrmK is essential for Staphylococcus aureus survival during infection but has no homolog in mammals, making it a promising target for antibiotic development. Here, we characterize the structure and function of S. aureus TrmK (SaTrmK) using X-ray crystallography, binding assays, and molecular dynamics simulations. We report crystal structures for the SaTrmK apoenzyme as well as in complexes with methyl donor SAM and co-product product SAH. Isothermal titration calorimetry showed that SAM binds to the enzyme with favorable but modest enthalpic and entropic contributions, whereas SAH binding leads to an entropic penalty compensated for by a large favorable enthalpic contribution. Molecular dynamics simulations point to specific motions of the C-terminal domain being altered by SAM binding, which might have implications for tRNA recruitment. In addition, activity assays for SaTrmK-catalyzed methylation of A22 mutants of tRNA^Leu demonstrate that the adenine at position 22 is absolutely essential. In silico screening of compounds suggested the multifunctional organic toxin plumbagin as a potential inhibitor of TrmK, which was confirmed by activity measurements. Furthermore, LC-MS data indicated the protein was covalently modified by one equivalent of the inhibitor, and proteolytic digestion coupled with LC-MS identified Cys92 in the vicinity of the SAM-binding site as the sole residue modified. These results identify a cryptic binding pocket of SaTrmK, laying a foundation for future structure-based drug discovery.

m6A RNA Methylation Regulators Contribute to Predict and as a Therapy Target of Pulmonary Fibrosis

Background

Pulmonary fibrosis is difficult to treat. Early diagnosis and finding potential drug therapy targets of pulmonary fibrosis are particularly important. There were still various problems with existing pulmonary fibrosis markers, so it is particularly important to find new biomarkers and drug treatment targets. m6A (N6,2'-O-dimethyladenosine) RNA methylation was the cause of many diseases, and it is regulated by m6A methylation regulators. So, whether RNA methylation regulators can be a diagnostic marker and potential drug therapy target of early pulmonary fibrosis needs to be explored.

Materials and Methods

Using GSE110147 and GSE33566 in the GEO database to predict the m6A methylation regulators that may be related to the development of pulmonary fibrosis, we used 10 mg/ml bleomycin to induce mouse pulmonary fibrosis models and human pulmonary fibrosis samples, to confirm whether this indicator can be an early diagnostic marker of pulmonary fibrosis.

Results

According to the database prediction results, METTL3 can predict the occurrence and development of pulmonary fibrosis, and the results of MASSON and HE staining show that the fibrosis model of mice is successful, and the fibrosis of human samples is obvious. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of METTL3 was significantly reduced in pulmonary fibrosis.

Conclusions

The m6A methylation regulator METTL3 can be considered as an important biomarker for diagnosing pulmonary fibrosis occurrence, furthermore it could be considered as a drug target because of its low expression in pulmonary fibrosis.

Chemical biology and medicinal chemistry of RNA methyltransferases

RNA methyltransferases (MTases) are ubiquitous enzymes whose hitherto low profile in medicinal chemistry, contrasts with the surging interest in RNA methylation, the arguably most important aspect of the new field of epitranscriptomics. As MTases become validated as drug targets in all major fields of biomedicine, the development of small molecule compounds as tools and inhibitors is picking up considerable momentum, in academia as well as in biotech. Here we discuss the development of small molecules for two related aspects of chemical biology. Firstly, derivates of the ubiquitous cofactor S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) are being developed as bioconjugation tools for targeted transfer of functional groups and labels to increasingly visible targets. Secondly, SAM-derived compounds are being investigated for their ability to act as inhibitors of RNA MTases. Drug development is moving from derivatives of cosubstrates towards higher generation compounds that may address allosteric sites in addition to the catalytic centre. Progress in assay development and screening techniques from medicinal chemistry have led to recent breakthroughs, e.g. in addressing human enzymes targeted for their role in cancer. Spurred by the current pandemic, new inhibitors against coronaviral MTases have emerged at a spectacular rate, including a repurposed drug which is now in clinical trial.

The molecular mechanism of METTL3 promoting the malignant progression of lung cancer

Lung cancer remains one of the major causes of cancer-related death globally. Recent studies have shown that aberrant m⁶A levels caused by METTL3 are involved in the malignant progression of various tumors, including lung cancer. The m⁶A modification, the most abundant RNA chemical modification, regulates RNA stabilization, splicing, translation, decay, and nuclear export. The methyltransferase complex plays a key role in the occurrence and development of many tumors by installing m⁶A modification. In this complex, METTL3 is the first identified methyltransferase, which is also the major catalytic enzyme. Recent findings have revealed that METTL3 is remarkably associated with different aspects of lung cancer progression, influencing the prognosis of patients. In this review, we will focus on the underlying mechanism of METT3 in lung cancer and predict the future work and potential clinical application of targeting METTL3 for lung cancer therapy.

m6A modification: recent advances, anticancer targeted drug discovery and beyond

Abnormal N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is closely associated with the occurrence, development, progression and prognosis of cancer, and aberrant m6A regulators have been identified as novel anticancer drug targets. Both traditional medicine-related approaches and modern drug discovery platforms have been used in an attempt to develop m6A-targeted drugs. Here, we provide an update of the latest findings on m6A modification and the critical roles of m6A modification in cancer progression, and we summarize rational sources for the discovery of m6A-targeted anticancer agents from traditional medicines and computer-based chemosynthetic compounds. This review highlights the potential agents targeting m6A modification for cancer treatment and proposes the advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) in the discovery of m6A-targeting anticancer drugs. Three stages of m6A-targeting anticancer drug discovery: traditional medicine-based natural products, modern chemical modification or synthesis, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted approaches for the future.

METTL14-Mediated miR-30c-1-3p Maturation Represses the Progression of Lung Cancer via Regulation of MARCKSL1 Expression

Lung cancer (LC) is a pulmonary malignant tumor with extremely low 5-year survival rate. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is confirmed to regulate diverse pathophysiological processes including cancers. Methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) is an important RNA methyltransferase in m6A modification. However, researches on the regulatory mechanism of METTL14 on LC progression are relatively rare. Tumor xenograft experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of METTL14 on LC in vivo. The relative expression of METTL14, miR-30c-1-3p, and myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate-like protein-1 (MARCKSL1) in LC tissues and/or cell lines was determined using qRT-PCR. Western blot assay was used to measure the protein levels of METTL14 and MARCKSL1 in tumor xenograft model and/or LC cell lines. MTT, wound healing, and transwell assays were performed to detect LC cell viability and metastasis. RNA immunoprecipitation assay and qRT-PCR were used to verify the effects of METTL14 on pri-miR-30c-1-3p. The relationship between miR-30c-1-3p and MARCKSL1 was confirmed by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. METTL14 was remarkably downregulated in LC tissues and cell lines. METTL14 mediated the maturation of miR-30c-1-3p. The overexpressed METTL14 and overexpressed miR-30c-1-3p suppressed the cell viability and metastasis in LC. Meanwhile, the increased METTL14 also repressed the growth of tumor xenograft in vivo. In addition, MARCKSL1 was confirmed to be the target gene of miR-30c-1-3p. High expression of MARCKSL1 and low expression of miR-30c-1-3p reversed the suppressive effects of METTL14 overexpression on cell viability and metastasis. METTL14 promoted the maturation of miR-30c-1-3p and mediated MARCKSL1 expression to inhibit the progression of LC. This study may provide a new insight for the LC clinical therapy.

Using Chou's 5-steps rule to identify N6-methyladenine sites by ensemble learning combined with multiple feature extraction methods

N⁶-methyladenine (m6A), a type of modification mostly affecting the downstream biological functions and determining the levels of gene expression, is mediated by the methylation of adenine in nucleic acids. It is also a key factor for influencing biological processes and has attracted attention as a target for treating diseases. Here, an ensemble predictor named as TL-Methy, was developed to identify m6A sites across the genome. TL-Methy is a 2-level machine learning method developed by combining the support vector machine model and multiple features extraction methods, including nucleic acid composition, di-nucleotide composition, tri-nucleotide composition, position-specific trinucleotide propensity, Bi-profile Bayes, binary encoding, and accumulated nucleotide frequency. For Homo sapiens, TL-Methy method reached the accuracy of 91.68% on jackknife test and of 92.23% on 10-fold cross validation test; For Mus musculus, TL-Methy method achieved the accuracy of 93.66% on jackknife test and of 97.07% on 10-fold cross validation test; For Saccharomyces cerevisiae, TL-Methy method obtained the accuracy of 81.57% on jackknife test and of 82.54% on 10-fold cross validation test; For rice genome, TL-Methy method achieved the accuracy of 91.87% on jackknife test and of 93.04% on 10-fold cross validation test. The results via these two test approaches demonstrated the robustness and practicality of our TL-Methy model. The TL-Methy model may be as a potential method for m6A site identification.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Epitranscriptomic Modifications Modulate Normal and Pathological Functions in CNS

RNA is more than just a combination of four genetically encoded nucleobases as it carries extra information in the form of epitranscriptomic modifications. Diverse chemical groups attach covalently to RNA to enhance the plasticity of cellular transcriptome. The reversible and dynamic nature of epitranscriptomic modifications allows RNAs to achieve rapid and context-specific gene regulation. Dedicated cellular machinery comprising of writers, erasers, and readers drives the epitranscriptomic signaling. Epitranscriptomic modifications control crucial steps of mRNA metabolism such as splicing, export, localization, stability, degradation, and translation. The majority of the epitranscriptomic modifications are highly abundant in the brain and contribute to activity-dependent gene expression. Thus, they regulate the vital physiological processes of the brain, such as synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, and stress response. Furthermore, epitranscriptomic alterations influence the progression of several neurologic disorders. This review discussed the molecular mechanisms of epitranscriptomic regulation in neurodevelopmental and neuropathological conditions with the goal to identify novel therapeutic targets.

METTL3 promotes colorectal carcinoma progression by regulating the m6A-CRB3-Hippo axis

Background

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the third most common cancer and second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) N6-methyladnosine (m6A) and methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) play key roles in cancer progression. However, the roles of m6A and METTL3 in CRC progression require further clarification.

Methods

Adenoma and CRC samples were examined to detect m6A and METTL3 levels, and tissue microarrays were performed to evaluate the association of m6A and METTL3 levels with the survival of patients with CRC. The biological functions of METTL3 were investigated through cell counting kit-8, wound healing, and transwell assays. M6A epitranscriptomic microarray, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR, RNA stability, luciferase reporter, and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were performed to explore the mechanism of METTL3 in CRC progression.

Results

M6A and METTL3 levels were substantially elevated in CRC tissues, and patients with CRC with a high m6A or METTL3 levels exhibited shorter overall survival. METTL3 knockdown substantially inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells. An m6A epitranscriptomic microarray revealed that the cell polarity regulator Crumbs3 (CRB3) was the downstream target of METTL3. METTL3 knockdown substantially reduced the m6A level of CRB3, and inhibited the degradation of CRB3 mRNA to increase CRB3 expression. Luciferase reporter assays also showed that the transcriptional level of wild-type CRB3 significantly increased after METTL3 knockdown but not its level of variation. Knockdown of YT521-B homology domain–containing family protein 2 (YTHDF2) substantially increased CRB3 expression. RNA immunoprecipitation assays also verified the direct interaction between the YTHDF2 and CRB3 mRNA, and this direct interaction was impaired after METTL3 inhibition. In addition, CRB3 knockdown significantly promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells. Mechanistically, METTL3 knockdown activated the Hippo pathway and reduced nuclear localization of Yes1-associated transcriptional regulator, and the effects were reversed by CRB3 knockdown.

Conclusions

M6A and METTL3 levels were substantially elevated in CRC tissues relative to normal tissues. Patients with CRC with high m6A or METTL3 levels exhibited shorter overall survival, and METTL3 promoted CRC progression. Mechanistically, METTL3 regulated the progression of CRC by regulating the m6A–CRB3–Hippo pathway.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-02227-8.

Mettl3 inhibits the apoptosis and autophagy of chondrocytes in inflammation through mediating Bcl2 stability via Ythdf1-mediated m6A modification

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) methylation is one of the most common internal modifications in eukaryotic messenger RNA occurring on N⁶ nitrogen of adenosine. However, the roles of m⁶A in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) are still elusive. Here, we investigate the function and mechanism of methyltransferase-like 3 (Mettl3) in chondrocytes in inflammation. We found that the expression of Mettl3 decreased both in vivo TMJ OA mice and in vitro inflammatory stimulation. Functionally, loss and gain studies illustrated that Mettl3 inhibited the apoptosis and autophagy of chondrocytes induced by TNF-α stimulation in vitro. Mettl3 inhibitor, S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) promoted the apoptosis and autophagy of chondrocytes with inflammation in vitro and aggravated the degeneration of chondrocytes and subchondral bone in monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) induced TMJ OA mice in vivo. Mechanistically, the bioinformatics analysis, m⁶A-RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) were used to identify that Bcl2 mRNA was the downstream target of Mettl3 for m⁶A modification. Furthermore, the results revealed that Yth m⁶A RNA binding protein 1 (Ythdf1) mediated the stability of Bcl2 mRNA catalyzed by Mettl3. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) showed that Bcl2 protein interacted with Beclin1 protein in chondrocytes induced by TNF-α stimulation. In conclusion, our findings identify that Mettl3 inhibits the apoptosis and autophagy of chondrocytes in inflammation through m⁶A/Ythdf1/Bcl2 signal axis which provides promising therapeutic strategy for TMJ OA.

RNA N6-methyladenosine in nonocular and ocular disease

N⁶ -methyladenosine (m⁶ A), the sixth N methylation of adenylate (A) in RNA, is the most abundant transcriptome modification in eukaryotic messenger RNA (mRNAs). m⁶ A modification exists in both coding mRNA and noncoding RNAs, and its functions are controlled by methyltransferase, demethylase, and m⁶ A reading proteins. Methylation modification of m⁶ A can regulate RNA cleavage, transport, stability, and expression. This review summarizes the enzymes involved in RNA m⁶ A methylation and the commonly used detection methods. The role of m⁶ A modification in physiological processes is described, and its impact on tumorigenesis, viral infection, and diabetes is further highlighted. Moreover, up-to-date knowledge of the implications of RNA m⁶ A modification in ocular diseases such as uveal melanoma and diabetic retinopathy is introduced. Clarifying the mechanism of RNA m⁶ A methylation will help elucidate the pathogenesis of various diseases, providing options for subsequent treatment.

Emerging role of m6A methylation modification in ovarian cancer

m6A (N6-methyladenosine) methylation, a well-known modification in tumour epigenetics, dynamically and reversibly fine tunes the entire process of RNA metabolism. Aberrant levels of m6A and its regulators, which can predict the survival and outcomes of cancer patients, are involved in tumorigenesis, metastasis and resistance. Ovarian cancer (OC) ranks first among gynaecological tumours in the causes of death. At first diagnosis, patients with OC are usually at advanced stages owing to a lack of early biomarkers and effective targets. After treatment, patients with OC often develop drug resistance. This article reviews the recent experimental advances in understanding the role of m6A modification in OC, raising the possibility to treat m6A modification and its regulators as promising diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for OC.

METTL3 is a key regulator of milk synthesis in mammary epithelial cells

The enzyme m⁶ A methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) catalyzes N⁶ -methyladenosine (m⁶ A) modification in eukaryotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs). However, the physiological function and molecular mechanism of METTL3 in mammalian cells have not been fully understood. Here we showed that METTL3 was highly expressed in mouse mammary gland of the lactation period. METTL3 was located in the nucleus of bovine mammary epithelial cells (MECs), and methionine (Met) and β-estrodial (E2) upregulated METTL3 protein level. METTL3 knockdown decreased milk protein and fat synthesis, whereas its overexpression had the opposite effects. METTL3 overexpression stimulated mRNA expression and protein phosphorylation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and mRNA and protein expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1), whereas METTL3 knockdown blocked the stimulatory effects of Met and E2 on these processes. Furthermore, METTL3 overexpression led to increased mRNA m⁶ A methylation of mTOR and SREBP1, whereas METTL3 knockdown suppressed the stimulatory effects of Met and E2 on these processes. The interaction between METTL3 and glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS) was confirmed by Co-immunoprecipitation and fluorescence resonance energy transfer approaches, and colocalization observation further showed that Met and E2 treatment increased this interaction. GlyRS knockdown abolished METTL3 protein levels upregulated by Met and E2, and METTL3 knockdown markedly decreased the effects of GlyRS overexpression on mTOR expression and phosphorylation and SREBP1 expression. In summary, we demonstrate that METTL3 is a key positive regulator of Met and E2-stimulated and GlyRS-mediated mTOR and SREBP1 signaling pathways and milk protein and fat synthesis in mammary epithelial cells.

Targeting the RNA demethylase FTO for cancer therapy

N 6-Methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent internal modification on mRNA and represents a new layer of gene expression in eukaryotes. The field of m6A-encoded epitranscriptomics was rejuvenated with the discovery of fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) as the first m6A demethylase responsible for RNA modification in cells. Increasing evidence has revealed that FTO is significantly involved in physiological processes, and its dysregulation is implicated in various human diseases. Considering this functional significance, developing small-molecule modulators of the FTO protein represents a novel direction for biology research. However, such modulators remain in the early stages of development. Here, our review mainly focuses on the progress of FTO inhibitor development to date. We summarize screening methods used to identify FTO modulators, techniques used to assess the biological effects of these modulators, strategies used to achieve selective inhibition of FTO rather than its homologues, and the results of investigations of FTO modulator modes of action and anticancer efficacy. Thus, this review aims to facilitate novel chemical entity discovery, probe FTO biology, and promote the validation of FTO as a clinical drug target for cancer treatment.

Research progress concerning m6A methylation and cancer

N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) methylation is a type of methylation modification on RNA molecules, which was first discovered in 1974, and has become a hot topic in life science in recent years. m⁶A modification is an epigenetic regulation similar to DNA and histone modification and is dynamically reversible in mammalian cells. This chemical marker of RNA is produced by m⁶A 'writers' (methylase) and can be degraded by m⁶A 'erasers' (demethylase). Methylated reading protein is the 'reader', that can recognize the mRNA containing m⁶A and regulate the expression of downstream genes accordingly. m⁶A methylation is involved in all stages of the RNA life cycle, including RNA processing, nuclear export, translation and regulation of RNA degradation, indicating that m⁶A plays a crucial role in RNA metabolism. Recent studies have shown that m⁶A modification is a complicated regulatory network in different cell lines, tissues and spatio-temporal models, and m⁶A methylation is associated with the occurrence and development of tumors. The present review describes the regulatory mechanism and physiological functions of m⁶A methylation, and its research progress in several types of human tumor, to provide novel approaches for early diagnosis and targeted treatment of cancer.

METTL3 increases cisplatin chemosensitivity of cervical cancer cells via downregulation of the activity of RAGE

Cervical cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy worldwide. Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) is involved in tumorigenesis; however, it is unclear whether METTL3 plays a potential role in regulating cisplatin (DDP) resistance. Therefore, the role of METTL3 in the regulation of cisplatin sensitivity in cervical cancer cells was determined. Our immunohistochemistry (IHC) data showed that METTL3 was highly expressed in para-cancerous compared with cervical cancer tissues. Furthermore, METTL3 overexpression inhibited viability and increased cisplatin sensitivity of cervical cancer cells in vitro. Overexpression of METTL3 inhibited tumor growth in vivo. IHC results showed that the receptor for advanced glycation and products (RAGE) had higher expression levels in cervical cancer tissues. RAGE downregulation increased cell sensitivity to cisplatin treatment. Moreover, the combination of FPS-ZM1 with cisplatin was more effective in inhibiting cell viability as compared with FPS-ZM1 or cisplatin only. Additionally, METTL3 reduced RAGE expression in cervical cancer cells. Overexpression of METTL3 downregulated RAGE expression and caused more sensitivity to cisplatin treatment in the SiHa-DDP cell line. METTL3 inhibited cell viability and increased apoptosis as well as enhanced the sensitivity of cisplatin via downregulating RAGE expression in cervical cancer cells.

N6-Methyladenosine in Cancer Immunotherapy: An Undervalued Therapeutic Target

N⁶-methylation of adenosine (m⁶A), a post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism, is the most abundant nucleotide modification in almost all types of RNAs. The biological function of m⁶A in regulating the expression of oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes has been widely investigated in various cancers. However, recent studies have addressed a new role of m⁶A modification in the anti-tumor immune response. By modulating the fate of targeted RNA, m⁶A affects tumor-associated immune cell activation and infiltration in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In addition, m⁶A-targeting is found to affect the efficacy of classical immunotherapy, which makes m⁶A a potential target for immunotherapy. Although m⁶A modification together with its regulators may play the exact opposite role in different tumor types, targeting m⁶A regulators has been shown to have wide implications in several cancers. In this review, we discussed the link between m⁶A modification and tumor with an emphasis on the importance of m⁶A in anti-tumor immune response and immunotherapy.

N6 -Methyladenosine Modification in Chronic Stress Response Due to Social Hierarchy Positioning of Mice

Appropriately responding to stressful events is essential for maintaining health and well-being of any organism. Concerning social stress, the response is not always as straightforward as reacting to physical stressors, e.g., extreme heat, and thus has to be balanced subtly. Particularly, regulatory mechanisms contributing to gaining resilience in the face of mild social stress are not fully deciphered yet. We employed an intrinsic social hierarchy stress paradigm in mice of both sexes to identify critical factors for potential coping strategies. While global transcriptomic changes could not be observed in male mice, several genes previously reported to be involved in synaptic plasticity, learning, and anxiety-like behavior were differentially regulated in female mice. Moreover, changes in N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A)-modification of mRNA occurred associated with corticosterone level in both sexes with, e.g., increased global amount in submissive female mice. In accordance with this, METTL14 and WTAP, subunits of the methyltransferase complex, showed elevated levels in submissive female mice. N⁶-adenosyl-methylation is the most prominent type of mRNA methylation and plays a crucial role in processes such as metabolism, but also response to physical stress. Our findings underpin its essential role by also providing a link to social stress evoked by hierarchy building within same-sex groups. As recently, search for small molecule modifiers for the respective class of RNA modifying enzymes has started, this might even lead to new therapeutic approaches against stress disorders.

Targeting epigenetics and lncRNAs in liver disease: From mechanisms to therapeutics

Early onset and progression of liver diseases can be driven by aberrant transcriptional regulation. Different transcriptional regulation processes, such as RNA/DNA methylation, histone modification, and ncRNA-mediated targeting, can regulate biological processes in healthy cells, as well also under various pathological conditions, especially liver disease. Numerous studies over the past decades have demonstrated that liver disease has a strong epigenetic component. Therefore, the epigenetic basis of liver disease has challenged our knowledge of epigenetics, and epigenetics field has undergone an important transformation: from a biological phenomenon to an emerging focus of disease research. Furthermore, inhibitors of different epigenetic regulators, such as m⁶A-related factors, are being explored as potential candidates for preventing and treating liver diseases. In the present review, we summarize and discuss the current knowledge of five distinct but interconnected and interdependent epigenetic processes in the context of hepatic diseases: RNA methylation, DNA methylation, histone methylation, miRNAs, and lncRNAs. Finally, we discuss the potential therapeutic implications and future challenges and ongoing research in the field. Our review also provides a perspective for identifying therapeutic targets and new hepatic biomarkers of liver disease, bringing precision research and disease therapy to the modern era of epigenetics.

N6-methyladenosine methyltransferases: functions, regulation, and clinical potential

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has emerged as an abundant modification throughout the transcriptome with widespread functions in protein-coding and noncoding RNAs. It affects the fates of modified RNAs, including their stability, splicing, and/or translation, and thus plays important roles in posttranscriptional regulation. To date, m6A methyltransferases have been reported to execute m6A deposition on distinct RNAs by their own or forming different complexes with additional partner proteins. In this review, we summarize the function of these m6A methyltransferases or complexes in regulating the key genes and pathways of cancer biology. We also highlight the progress in the use of m6A methyltransferases in mediating therapy resistance, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy. Finally, we discuss the current approaches and clinical potential of m6A methyltransferase-targeting strategies.

m6A Modification: A Double-Edged Sword in Tumor Development

Modification of m6A, as the most abundant mRNA modification, plays diverse roles in various biological processes in eukaryotes. Emerging evidence has revealed that m6A modification is closely associated with the activation and inhibition of tumor pathways, and it is significantly linked to the prognosis of cancer patients. Aberrant reduction or elevated expression of m6A regulators and of m6A itself have been identified in numerous tumors. In this review, we give a description of the dynamic properties of m6A modification regulators, such as methyltransferases, demethylases, and m6A binding proteins, and indicate the value of the balance between these proteins in regulating the expression of diverse genes and the underlying effects on cancer development. Furthermore, we summarize the “dual-edged weapon” role of RNA methylation in tumor progression and discuss that RNA methylation can not only result in tumorigenesis but also lead to suppression of tumor formation. In addition, we summarize the latest research progress on small-molecule targeting of m6A regulators to inhibit or activate m6A. These studies indicate that restoring the balance of m6A modification via targeting specific imbalanced regulators may be a novel anti-cancer strategy.

A Light-Controllable Chemical Modulation of m6 A RNA Methylation

Bioactive small molecules with photo-removable protecting groups have provided spatial and temporal control of corresponding biological effects. We present the design, synthesis, computational and experimental evaluation of the first photo-activatable small-molecule methyltransferase agonist. By blocking the functional N-H group on MPCH with a photo-removable ortho-nitrobenzyl moiety, we have developed a promising photo-caged compound that had completely concealed its biological activity. Short UV light exposure of cells treated with that caged molecule in a few minutes resulted in a considerable hypermethylation of m⁶ A modification in transcriptome RNAs, implicating a rapid release of the parent active compound. This study validates for the first time the photo-activatable small organic molecular concept in the field of RNA epigenetic research, which represents a novel tool in spatiotemporal and cellular modulation approaches.

Impact of One-Carbon Metabolism-Driving Epitranscriptome as a Therapeutic Target for Gastrointestinal Cancer

One-carbon (1C) metabolism plays a key role in biological functions linked to the folate cycle. These include nucleotide synthesis; the methylation of DNA, RNA, and proteins in the methionine cycle; and transsulfuration to maintain the redox condition of cancer stem cells in the tumor microenvironment. Recent studies have indicated that small therapeutic compounds affect the mitochondrial folate cycle, epitranscriptome (RNA methylation), and reactive oxygen species reactions in cancer cells. The epitranscriptome controls cellular biochemical reactions, but is also a platform for cell-to-cell interaction and cell transformation. We present an update of recent advances in the study of 1C metabolism related to cancer and demonstrate the areas where further research is needed. We also discuss approaches to therapeutic drug discovery using animal models and propose further steps toward developing precision cancer medicine.

HIV Replication Is Increased by RNA Methylation METTL3/METTL14/WTAP Complex Activators

The N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modifications in both viral and host cell RNAs play an important role in HIV-1 virus genome transcription and virus replication. We demonstrate here that activators of the METTL3/METTL14/WTAP RNA methyltransferase complex enhance the production of virus particles in cells harboring HIV-1 provirus. In parallel, the amount of m⁶A residues in the host cell mRNA was increased in the presence of these activator compounds. Importantly, the m⁶A methylation of the HIV-1 RNA was also enhanced significantly (about 18%). The increase of virus replication by the small-molecule activators of the METTL3/METTL14/WTAP complex excludes them as potential anti-HIV-1 drug candidates. However, the compounds may be of large interest as activators for the latent HIV-1 provirus copies deposited in host cells' genome and the subsequent virus eradication by an antiviral compound.

Epitranscriptomics of Ischemic Heart Disease-The IHD-EPITRAN Study Design and Objectives

Epitranscriptomic modifications in RNA can dramatically alter the way our genetic code is deciphered. Cells utilize these modifications not only to maintain physiological processes, but also to respond to extracellular cues and various stressors. Most often, adenosine residues in RNA are targeted, and result in modifications including methylation and deamination. Such modified residues as N-6-methyl-adenosine (m6A) and inosine, respectively, have been associated with cardiovascular diseases, and contribute to disease pathologies. The Ischemic Heart Disease Epitranscriptomics and Biomarkers (IHD-EPITRAN) study aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding to their nature and role in cardiovascular pathology. The study hypothesis is that pathological features of IHD are mirrored in the blood epitranscriptome. The IHD-EPITRAN study focuses on m6A and A-to-I modifications of RNA. Patients are recruited from four cohorts: (I) patients with IHD and myocardial infarction undergoing urgent revascularization; (II) patients with stable IHD undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting; (III) controls without coronary obstructions undergoing valve replacement due to aortic stenosis and (IV) controls with healthy coronaries verified by computed tomography. The abundance and distribution of m6A and A-to-I modifications in blood RNA are charted by quantitative and qualitative methods. Selected other modified nucleosides as well as IHD candidate protein and metabolic biomarkers are measured for reference. The results of the IHD-EPITRAN study can be expected to enable identification of epitranscriptomic IHD biomarker candidates and potential drug targets.

m6A modification regulates lung fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition through modulating KCNH6 mRNA translation

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, fatal lung disease characterized by progressive and non-reversible abnormal matrix deposition in lung parenchyma. Myofibroblasts origin mainly from resident fibroblasts via fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT) are the dominant collagen-producing cells in pulmonary fibrosis. N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification has been implicated in various biological process. However, the role of m⁶A modification in pulmonary fibrosis remains elusive. In this study, we reveal that m⁶A modification is up-regulated in bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis mice model, FMT-derived myofibroblasts and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patient lung samples. Lowering m⁶A level through silencing METTL3 inhibits FMT process in vitro and vivo. Mechanistically, KCNH6 is involved in m⁶A-regulated FMT process. m⁶A modification regulates the expression of KCNH6 by modulating its translation in a YTHDF1 dependent manner. Together, our study highlights the critical role of m⁶A modification in pulmonary fibrosis. Manipulation of m⁶A modification through targeting METTL3 may become a promising strategy for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

The N6-methyladenosine demethylase ALKBH5 negatively regulates the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells through PRMT6

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification is widespread in messenger RNAs and increasing evidence suggests the crucial roles of m⁶A in cell differentiation and tissue development. However, whether m⁶A modulates the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has not been fully elucidated. Here we show that conditional knockout of the demethylase Alkbh5 in bone marrow MSCs strengthened bone mass in mice. Loss- and gain-of-function studies demonstrated that ALKBH5 negatively regulates the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs in vitro. At a mechanistic level, meRIP-seq and RNA-seq in MSCs following knockdown of ALKBH5 revealed changes in transcripts of PRMT6 containing consensus m⁶A motifs required for demethylation by ALKBH5. Furthermore, we found that ALKBH5 accelerates the degradation rate of PRMT6 mRNA in an m⁶A-dependent manner, and that the ALKBH5-PRMT6 axis regulates the osteogenesis of MSCs, mainly through activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Thus, our work reveals a different facet of the novel ALKBH5-PRMT6 axis that modulates the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, which can serve as a target to improve the clinical use of MSCs.

From A to m6A: The Emerging Viral Epitranscriptome

There are over 100 different chemical RNA modifications, collectively known as the epitranscriptome. N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most commonly found internal RNA modification in cellular mRNAs where it plays important roles in the regulation of the mRNA structure, stability, translation and nuclear export. This modification is also found in viral RNA genomes and in viral mRNAs derived from both RNA and DNA viruses. A growing body of evidence indicates that m⁶A modifications play important roles in regulating viral replication by interacting with the cellular m⁶A machinery. In this review, we will exhaustively detail the current knowledge on m⁶A modification, with an emphasis on its function in virus biology.

The Role of RNA Modifications and RNA-modifying Proteins in Cancer Therapy and Drug Resistance

The advent of new genome-wide sequencing technologies has uncovered abnormal RNA modifications and RNA editing in a variety of human cancers. The discovery of reversible RNA N6-methyladenosine (RNA: m⁶A) by fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) demethylase has led to exponential publications on the pathophysiological functions of m⁶A and its corresponding RNA modifying proteins (RMPs) in the past decade. Some excellent reviews have summarized the recent progress in this field. Compared to the extent of research into RNA: m⁶A and DNA 5-methylcytosine (DNA: m⁵C), much less is known about other RNA modifications and their associated RMPs, such as the role of RNA: m⁵C and its RNA cytosine methyltransferases (RCMTs) in cancer therapy and drug resistance. In this review, we will summarize the recent progress surrounding the function, intramolecular distribution and subcellular localization of several major RNA modifications, including 5' cap N7-methylguanosine (m7G) and 2'-O-methylation (Nm), m⁶A, m⁵C, A-to-I editing, and the associated RMPs. We will then discuss dysregulation of those RNA modifications and RMPs in cancer and their role in cancer therapy and drug resistance.

In Vitro Identification and In Vivo Confirmation of Inhibitors for Sweet Potato Chlorotic Stunt Virus RNA Silencing Suppressor, a Viral RNase III

Sweet potato virus disease (SPVD), caused by synergistic infection of Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV) and Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), is responsible for substantial yield losses all over the world. However, there are currently no approved treatments for this severe disease. The crucial role played by RNase III of SPCSV (CSR3) as an RNA silencing suppressor during the viruses' synergistic interaction in sweetpotato makes it an ideal drug target for developing antiviral treatment. In this study, high-throughput screening (HTS) of small molecular libraries targeting CSR3 was initiated by a virtual screen using Glide docking, allowing the selection of 6,400 compounds out of 136,353. We subsequently developed and carried out kinetic-based HTS using fluorescence resonance energy transfer technology, which isolated 112 compounds. These compounds were validated with dose-response assays including kinetic-based HTS and binding affinity assays using surface plasmon resonance and microscale thermophoresis. Finally, the interference of the selected compounds with viral accumulation was verified in planta In summary, we identified five compounds belonging to two structural classes that inhibited CSR3 activity and reduced viral accumulation in plants. These results provide the foundation for developing antiviral agents targeting CSR3 to provide new strategies for controlling sweetpotato virus diseases.IMPORTANCE We report here a high-throughput inhibitor identification method that targets a severe sweetpotato virus disease caused by coinfection with two viruses (SPCSV and SPFMV). The disease is responsible for up to 90% yield losses. Specifically, we targeted the RNase III enzyme encoded by SPCSV, which plays an important role in suppressing the RNA silencing defense system of sweetpotato plants. Based on virtual screening, laboratory assays, and confirmation in planta, we identified five compounds that could be used to develop antiviral drugs to combat the most severe sweetpotato virus disease.

The potential role of m6A RNA methylation in diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a major microvascular complication of diabetes, affects most diabetic individuals and has become the leading cause of vision loss. Metabolic memory associated with diabetes retains the risk of disease occurrence even after the termination of glycemic insult. Further, various limitations associated with its current diagnostic and treatment strategies like unavailability of early diagnostic and treatment methods, variation in treatment response from patient to patient, and cost-effectiveness have driven the need to find alternative solutions. Post-transcriptional epigenetic modification of RNA mainly, N6-methyladenosine (m6A), is an emerging concept in the scientific community. It has an indispensable effect in various physiological and pathological conditions. m6A mediates its effect through the various reader, writer, and eraser proteins. Recent studies have shown the impact of m6A RNA modification on various disease conditions, including diabetes, but its role in diabetic retinopathy is still unclear. However, change in m6A levels has been observed in various prime aggravators of DR pathogenesis, such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and angiogenesis. Further, various non-coding RNAs like microRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA are also associated with DR, and m6A has been shown to affect all these non-coding RNAs. This review is concerned with the possible mechanisms through which alteration in m6A modification of RNA can participate in the DR progression and pathogenesis and its expected role in metabolic memory phenomena.

RNA modifications in cardiovascular diseases, the potential therapeutic targets

More than one hundred RNA modifications decorate the chemical and topological properties of these ribose nucleotides, thereby executing their biological functions through post-transcriptional regulation. In cardiovascular diseases, a wide range of RNA modifications including m⁶A (N6-adenosine methylation), m⁵C (5-methylcytidin), Nm (2'-O-ribose-methylation), Ψ (pseudouridine), m⁷G (N7-methylguanosine), and m¹A (N1-adenosine methylation) have been found in tRNA, rRNA, mRNA and other noncoding RNA, which can function as a novel mechanism in metabolic syndrome, heart failure, coronary heart disease, and hypertension. In this review, we will summarize the current understanding of the regulatory roles and significance of several types of RNA modifications in CVDs (cardiovascular diseases) and the interplay between RNA modifications and noncoding RNA, epigenetics. Finally, we will focus on the potential therapeutic strategies by using RNA modifications.

Regulation of RNA N6-methyladenosine modification and its emerging roles in skeletal muscle development

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most widespread and highly conserved chemical modifications in cellular RNAs of eukaryotic genomes. Owing to the development of high-throughput m6A sequencing, the functions and mechanisms of m6A modification in development and diseases have been revealed. Recent studies have shown that RNA m6A methylation plays a critical role in skeletal muscle development, which regulates myoblast proliferation and differentiation, and muscle regeneration. Exploration of the functions of m6A modification and its regulators provides a deeper understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle development. In the present review, we aim to summarize recent breakthroughs concerning the global landscape of m6A modification in mammals and examine the biological functions and mechanisms of enzymes regulating m6A RNA methylation. We describe the interplay between m6A and other epigenetic modifications and highlight the regulatory roles of m6A in development, especially that of skeletal muscle. m6A and its regulators are expected to be targets for the treatment of human muscle-related diseases and novel epigenetic markers for animal breeding in meat production.

The m6A RNA methylation regulates oncogenic signaling pathways driving cell malignant transformation and carcinogenesis

The m⁶A RNA methylation is the most prevalent internal modification in mammalian mRNAs which plays critical biological roles by regulating vital cellular processes. Dysregulations of the m⁶A modification due to aberrant expression of its regulatory proteins are frequently observed in many pathological conditions, particularly in cancer. Normal cells undergo malignant transformation via activation or modulation of different oncogenic signaling pathways through complex mechanisms. Accumulating evidence showing regulation of oncogenic signaling pathways at the epitranscriptomic level has added an extra layer of the complexity. In particular, recent studies demonstrated that, in many types of cancers various oncogenic signaling pathways are modulated by the m⁶A modification in the target mRNAs as well as noncoding RNA transcripts. m⁶A modifications in these RNA molecules control their fate and metabolism by regulating their stability, translation or subcellular localizations. In this review we discussed recent exciting studies on oncogenic signaling pathways that are modulated by the m⁶A RNA modification and/or their regulators in cancer and provided perspectives for further studies. The regulation of oncogenic signaling pathways by the m⁶A modification and its regulators also render them as potential druggable targets for the treatment of cancer.

The Emerging Roles of RNA m6A Methylation and Demethylation as Critical Regulators of Tumorigenesis, Drug Sensitivity, and Resistance

RNA N⁶ -methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification occurs in approximately 25% of mRNAs at the transcriptome-wide level. RNA m⁶A is regulated by the RNA m⁶A methyltransferases methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), METTL14, and METTL16 (writers), demethylases FTO and ALKBH5 (erasers), and binding proteins YTHDC1-2, YTHDF1-3, IGF2BP1-3, and SND1 (readers). These RNA m⁶A modification proteins are frequently upregulated or downregulated in human cancer tissues and are often associated with poor patient prognosis. By modulating pre-mRNA splicing, mRNA nuclear export, decay, stability, and translation of oncogenic and tumor suppressive transcripts, RNA m⁶A modification proteins regulate cancer cell proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and sensitivity to anticancer therapies. Importantly, small-molecule activators of METTL3, as well as inhibitors of METTL3, FTO, ALKBH5, and IGF2BP1 have recently been identified and have shown considerable anticancer effects when administered alone or in combination with other anticancer agents, both in vitro and in mouse models of human cancers. Future compound screening and design of more potent and selective RNA m⁶A modification protein inhibitors and activators are expected to provide novel anticancer agents, appropriate for clinical trials in patients with cancer tissues harboring aberrant RNA m⁶A modification protein expression or RNA m⁶A modification protein-induced resistance to cancer therapy.