Cai Yiqing, Feng Rui, Lu Tiange, Chen Xiaomin, Zhou Xiangxiang, Wang Xin
Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
Biomark Res. 2021 Apr 20;9(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s40364-021-00278-9.
N6-methyladenosine (mA) is a prevalent internal RNA modification in higher eukaryotic cells. As the pivotal mA regulator, RNA methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) is responsible for methyl group transfer in the progression of mA modification. This epigenetic regulation contributes to the structure and functional regulation of RNA and further promotes tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Accumulating evidence has illustrated the pivotal roles of METTL3 in a variety of human cancers. Here, we systemically summarize the interaction between METTL3 and RNAs, and illustrate the multiple functions of METTL3 in human cancer. METLL3 is aberrantly expressed in a variety of tumors. Elevation of METTL3 is usually associated with rapid progression and poor prognosis of tumors. On the other hand, METTL3 may also function as a tumor suppressor in several cancers. Based on the tumor-promoting effect of METTL3, the possibility of applying METTL3 inhibitors is further discussed, which is expected to provide novel insights into antitumor therapy.
N6-甲基腺嘌呤（mA）是高等真核细胞中一种普遍存在的RNA内部修饰。作为关键的mA调节剂，RNA甲基转移酶样3（METTL3）在mA修饰过程中负责甲基转移。这种表观遗传调控有助于RNA的结构和功能调节，并进一步促进肿瘤发生和肿瘤进展。越来越多的证据表明METTL3在多种人类癌症中起关键作用。在此，我们系统地总结了METTL3与RNA之间的相互作用，并阐述了METTL3在人类癌症中的多种功能。METTL3在多种肿瘤中异常表达。METTL3的升高通常与肿瘤的快速进展和不良预后相关。另一方面，METTL3在某些癌症中也可能起到肿瘤抑制作用。基于METTL3的促肿瘤作用，进一步讨论了应用METTL3抑制剂的可能性，有望为抗肿瘤治疗提供新的见解。
