METTL16 exerts an m6A-independent function to facilitate translation and tumorigenesis.

Abstract

METTL16 has recently been identified as an RNA methyltransferase responsible for the deposition of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) in a few transcripts. Whether METTL16 methylates a large set of transcripts, similar to METTL3 and METTL14, remains unclear. Here we show that METTL16 exerts both methyltransferase activity-dependent and -independent functions in gene regulation. In the cell nucleus, METTL16 functions as an m6A writer to deposit m6A into hundreds of its specific messenger RNA targets. In the cytosol, METTL16 promotes translation in an m6A-independent manner. More specifically, METTL16 directly interacts with the eukaryotic initiation factors 3a and -b as well as ribosomal RNA through its Mtase domain, thereby facilitating the assembly of the translation-initiation complex and promoting the translation of over 4,000 mRNA transcripts. Moreover, we demonstrate that METTL16 is critical for the tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Collectively, our studies reveal previously unappreciated dual functions of METTL16 as an m6A writer and a translation-initiation facilitator, which together contribute to its essential function in tumorigenesis.

• Authors: Rui Su, Lei Dong, Yangchan Li, Min Gao, P Cody He, Wei Liu, Jiangbo Wei, Zhicong Zhao, Lei Gao, Li Han, Xiaolan Deng, Chenying Li, Emily Prince, Brandon Tan, Ying Qing, Xi Qin, Chao Shen, Meilin Xue, Keren Zhou, Zhenhua Chen, Jianhuang Xue, Wei Li, Hanjun Qin, Xiwei Wu, Miao Sun, Yunsun Nam, Chun-Wei Chen, Wendong Huang, David Horne, Steven T Rosen, Chuan He, Jianjun Chen
• Journal: Nature cell biology (Nat Cell Biol) Vol. 24 Issue 2 Pg. 205-216 (02 2022) ISSN: 1476-4679 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 35145225 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.

Chemical References

• EIF3A protein, human
• EIF3B protein, human
• Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-3
• RNA, Messenger
• RNA, Ribosomal
• N-methyladenosine
• METTL16 protein, human
• Methyltransferases
• Adenosine

Topics

• Adenosine (analogs & derivatives, metabolism)
• Animals
• Carcinogenesis (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (enzymology, genetics, pathology)
• Cytosol (enzymology)
• Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-3 (genetics, metabolism)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• HEK293 Cells
• Hep G2 Cells
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (enzymology, genetics, pathology)
• Methyltransferases (genetics, metabolism)
• Mice, Inbred NOD
• Mice, SCID
• Protein Biosynthesis
• RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional
• RNA, Messenger (genetics, metabolism)
• RNA, Ribosomal (genetics, metabolism)
• Signal Transduction
• Tumor Burden
• Mice