METTL3 plays a crucial function in multiple biological processes

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.