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Nature Communications Oct 2023Cuproptosis, caused by excessively high copper concentrations, is urgently exploited as a potential cancer therapeutic. However, the mechanisms underlying the...
Cuproptosis, caused by excessively high copper concentrations, is urgently exploited as a potential cancer therapeutic. However, the mechanisms underlying the initiation, propagation, and ultimate execution of cuproptosis in tumors remain unknown. Here, we show that copper content is significantly elevated in gastric cancer (GC), especially in malignant tumors. Screening reveals that METTL16, an atypical methyltransferase, is a critical mediator of cuproptosis through the mA modification on FDX1 mRNA. Furthermore, copper stress promotes METTL16 lactylation at site K229 followed by cuproptosis. The process of METTL16 lactylation is inhibited by SIRT2. Elevated METTL16 lactylation significantly improves the therapeutic efficacy of the copper ionophore- elesclomol. Combining elesclomol with AGK2, a SIRT2-specific inhibitor, induce cuproptosis in gastric tumors in vitro and in vivo. These results reveal the significance of non-histone protein METTL16 lactylation on cuproptosis in tumors. Given the high copper and lactate concentrations in GC, cuproptosis induction becomes a promising therapeutic strategy for GC.
Topics: Humans; Copper; Lactic Acid; Methyltransferases; RNA, Messenger; Sirtuin 2; Stomach Neoplasms; Apoptosis
PubMed: 37863889
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42025-8 -
Nature Reviews. Immunology Sep 2023Age-related diseases are frequently linked to pathological immune dysfunction, including excessive inflammation, autoreactivity and immunodeficiency. Recent analyses of... (Review)
Review
Age-related diseases are frequently linked to pathological immune dysfunction, including excessive inflammation, autoreactivity and immunodeficiency. Recent analyses of human genetic data have revealed that somatic mutations and mosaic chromosomal alterations in blood cells - a condition known as clonal haematopoiesis (CH) - are associated with ageing and pathological immune dysfunction. Indeed, large-scale epidemiological studies and experimental mouse models have demonstrated that CH can promote cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic liver disease, osteoporosis and gout. The genes most frequently mutated in CH, the epigenetic regulators TET2 and DNMT3A, implicate increased chemokine expression and inflammasome hyperactivation in myeloid cells as a possible mechanistic connection between CH and age-related diseases. In addition, TET2 and DNMT3A mutations in lymphoid cells have been shown to drive methylation-dependent alterations in differentiation and function. Here we review the observational and mechanistic studies describing the connection between CH and pathological immune dysfunction, the effects of CH-associated genetic alterations on the function of myeloid and lymphoid cells, and the clinical and therapeutic implications of CH as a target for immunomodulation.
Topics: Humans; Mice; Animals; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; DNA Methyltransferase 3A; Clonal Hematopoiesis; Hematopoiesis; Mutation; Immune System
PubMed: 36941354
DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00843-3 -
Journal of Hematology & Oncology Aug 2023RNA modification has recently become a significant process of gene regulation, and the methyltransferase-like (METTL) family of proteins plays a critical role in RNA... (Review)
Review
RNA modification has recently become a significant process of gene regulation, and the methyltransferase-like (METTL) family of proteins plays a critical role in RNA modification, methylating various types of RNAs, including mRNA, tRNA, microRNA, rRNA, and mitochondrial RNAs. METTL proteins consist of a unique seven-beta-strand domain, which binds to the methyl donor SAM to catalyze methyl transfer. The most typical family member METTL3/METTL14 forms a methyltransferase complex involved in N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of RNA, regulating tumor proliferation, metastasis and invasion, immunotherapy resistance, and metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells. METTL1, METTL4, METTL5, and METTL16 have also been recently identified to have some regulatory ability in tumorigenesis, and the rest of the METTL family members rely on their methyltransferase activity for methylation of different nucleotides, proteins, and small molecules, which regulate translation and affect processes such as cell differentiation and development. Herein, we summarize the literature on METTLs in the last three years to elucidate their roles in human cancers and provide a theoretical basis for their future use as potential therapeutic targets.
Topics: Humans; Methyltransferases; Adenosine; Methylation; MicroRNAs; Biology; Neoplasms
PubMed: 37533128
DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01477-7 -
Cell Reports Jun 2023METTL14 (methyltransferase-like 14) is an RNA-binding protein that partners with METTL3 to mediate N-methyladenosine (mA) methylation. Recent studies identified a...
METTL14 (methyltransferase-like 14) is an RNA-binding protein that partners with METTL3 to mediate N-methyladenosine (mA) methylation. Recent studies identified a function for METTL3 in heterochromatin in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), but the molecular function of METTL14 on chromatin in mESCs remains unclear. Here, we show that METTL14 specifically binds and regulates bivalent domains, which are marked by trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) and lysine 4 (H3K4me3). Knockout of Mettl14 results in decreased H3K27me3 but increased H3K4me3 levels, leading to increased transcription. We find that bivalent domain regulation by METTL14 is independent of METTL3 or mA modification. METTL14 enhances H3K27me3 and reduces H3K4me3 by interacting with and probably recruiting the H3K27 methyltransferase polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) and H3K4 demethylase KDM5B to chromatin. Our findings identify an METTL3-independent role of METTL14 in maintaining the integrity of bivalent domains in mESCs, thus indicating a mechanism of bivalent domain regulation in mammals.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Chromatin; Histones; Lysine; Mammals; Mice, Knockout; Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells; Polycomb Repressive Complex 2; Methyltransferases
PubMed: 37314930
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112650 -
Molecular Cancer Jul 2023Newly growing evidence highlights the essential role that epitranscriptomic marks play in the development of many cancers; however, little is known about the role and...
Newly growing evidence highlights the essential role that epitranscriptomic marks play in the development of many cancers; however, little is known about the role and implications of altered epitranscriptome deposition in prostate cancer. Here, we show that the transfer RNA N-methylguanosine (mG) transferase METTL1 is highly expressed in primary and advanced prostate tumours. Mechanistically, we find that METTL1 depletion causes the loss of mG tRNA methylation and promotes the biogenesis of a novel class of small non-coding RNAs derived from 5'tRNA fragments. 5'tRNA-derived small RNAs steer translation control to favour the synthesis of key regulators of tumour growth suppression, interferon pathway, and immune effectors. Knockdown of Mettl1 in prostate cancer preclinical models increases intratumoural infiltration of pro-inflammatory immune cells and enhances responses to immunotherapy. Collectively, our findings reveal a therapeutically actionable role of METTL1-directed mG tRNA methylation in cancer cell translation control and tumour biology.
Topics: Male; Humans; Carcinogenesis; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Prostatic Neoplasms; Transcription, Genetic; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; Methyltransferases
PubMed: 37516825
DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01809-8 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023Despite improvements in modern medical therapies, inflammatory diseases, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, chronic kidney diseases, and... (Review)
Review
Despite improvements in modern medical therapies, inflammatory diseases, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, chronic kidney diseases, and autoimmune diseases have high incidence rates, still threaten human health, and represent a huge financial burden. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of RNA contributes to the pathogenesis of various diseases. As the most widely discussed m6A methyltransferase, the pathogenic role of METTL3 in inflammatory diseases has become a research hotspot, but there has been no comprehensive review of the topic. Here, we summarize the expression changes, modified target genes, and pathogenesis related to METTL3 in cardiovascular, metabolic, degenerative, immune, and infectious diseases, as well as tumors. In addition to epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts, METTL3 also regulates the function of inflammation-related immune cells, including macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, Th17 cells, and NK cells. Regarding therapeutic applications, METTL3 serves as a target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases with natural plant drug components, such as emodin, cinnamaldehyde, total flavonoids of , and resveratrol. This review focuses on recent advances in the initiation, development, and therapeutic application of METTL3 in inflammatory diseases. Knowledge of the specific regulatory mechanisms involving METTL3 can help to deepen understanding of inflammatory diseases and lay the foundation for the development of precisely targeted drugs to address inflammatory processes.
Topics: Humans; Endothelial Cells; Methyltransferases; Adenosine; Atherosclerosis; Autoimmune Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases
PubMed: 37671161
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1221609 -
Molecular Cell Jul 2023Nuclear receptor-binding SET-domain protein 1 (NSD1), a methyltransferase that catalyzes H3K36me2, is essential for mammalian development and is frequently dysregulated...
Nuclear receptor-binding SET-domain protein 1 (NSD1), a methyltransferase that catalyzes H3K36me2, is essential for mammalian development and is frequently dysregulated in diseases, including Sotos syndrome. Despite the impacts of H3K36me2 on H3K27me3 and DNA methylation, the direct role of NSD1 in transcriptional regulation remains largely unknown. Here, we show that NSD1 and H3K36me2 are enriched at cis-regulatory elements, particularly enhancers. NSD1 enhancer association is conferred by a tandem quadruple PHD (qPHD)-PWWP module, which recognizes p300-catalyzed H3K18ac. By combining acute NSD1 depletion with time-resolved epigenomic and nascent transcriptomic analyses, we demonstrate that NSD1 promotes enhancer-dependent gene transcription by facilitating RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) pause release. Notably, NSD1 can act as a transcriptional coactivator independent of its catalytic activity. Moreover, NSD1 enables the activation of developmental transcriptional programs associated with Sotos syndrome pathophysiology and controls embryonic stem cell (ESC) multilineage differentiation. Collectively, we have identified NSD1 as an enhancer-acting transcriptional coactivator that contributes to cell fate transition and Sotos syndrome development.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Nuclear Proteins; Chromatin; Sotos Syndrome; Histone Methyltransferases; Transcription Factors; Cell Differentiation; Mammals; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
PubMed: 37402365
DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.06.007 -
Pharmacological Research Aug 2023Dysregulated mitochondrial metabolism occurs in several pathological processes characterized by cell proliferation and migration. Nonetheless, the role of mitochondrial...
Dysregulated mitochondrial metabolism occurs in several pathological processes characterized by cell proliferation and migration. Nonetheless, the role of mitochondrial fission is not well appreciated in cardiac fibrosis, which is accompanied by enhanced fibroblast proliferation and migration. We investigated the causes and consequences of mitochondrial fission in cardiac fibrosis using cultured cells, animal models, and clinical samples. Increased METTL3 expression caused excessive mitochondrial fission, resulting in the proliferation and migration of cardiac fibroblasts that lead to cardiac fibrosis. Knockdown of METTL3 suppressed mitochondrial fission, inhibiting fibroblast proliferation and migration for ameliorating cardiac fibrosis. Elevated METTL3 and N6-methyladenosine (mA) levels were associated with low expression of long non-coding RNA GAS5. Mechanistically, METTL3-mediated mA methylation of GAS5 induced its degradation, dependent of YTHDF2. GAS5 could interact with mitochondrial fission marker Drp1 directly; overexpression of GAS5 suppressed Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission, inhibiting cardiac fibroblast proliferation and migration. Knockdown of GAS5 produced the opposite effect. Clinically, increased METTL3 and YTHDF2 levels corresponded with decreased GAS5 expression, increased mA mRNA content and mitochondrial fission, and increased cardiac fibrosis in human heart tissue with atrial fibrillation. We describe a novel mechanism wherein METTL3 boosts mitochondrial fission, cardiac fibroblast proliferation, and fibroblast migration: METTL3 catalyzes mA methylation of GAS5 methylation in a YTHDF2-dependent manner. Our findings provide insight into the development of preventative measures for cardiac fibrosis.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Fibrosis; Methylation; Methyltransferases; Mitochondrial Dynamics; RNA, Long Noncoding; Transcription Factors; Mice
PubMed: 37379961
DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106840 -
Cell Reports Jun 2023Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative disorder, affecting approximately half of the elderly population. In this study, we find that the expressions of long...
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative disorder, affecting approximately half of the elderly population. In this study, we find that the expressions of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) IGFBP7-OT and its maternal gene, IGFBP7, are upregulated and positively correlated in osteoarthritic cartilage. Overexpression of IGFBP7-OT significantly inhibits chondrocyte viability, promotes chondrocyte apoptosis, and reduces extracellular matrix components, whereas IGFBP7-OT knockdown has the opposite effects. IGFBP7-OT overexpression promotes cartilage degeneration and markedly aggravates the monosodium iodoacetate-induced OA phenotype in vivo. Further mechanistic research reveals that IGFBP7-OT promotes OA progression by upregulating IGFBP7 expression. Specifically, IGFBP7-OT suppresses the occupancy of DNMT1 and DNMT3a on the IGFBP7 promoter, thereby inhibiting methylation of the IGFBP7 promoter. The upregulation of IGFBP7-OT in OA is partially controlled by METTL3-mediated N-methyladenosine (mA) modification. Collectively, our findings reveal that mA modification of IGFBP7-OT promotes OA progression by regulating the DNMT1/DNMT3a-IGFBP7 axis and provide a potential therapeutical target for OA treatment.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Apoptosis; Cartilage; Chondrocytes; DNA Modification Methylases; Methyltransferases; Osteoarthritis; RNA, Long Noncoding; Up-Regulation; DNA Methyltransferase 3A; Animals; Mice
PubMed: 37270777
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112589 -
PRMT blockade induces defective DNA replication stress response and synergizes with PARP inhibition.Cell Reports. Medicine Dec 2023Multiple cancers exhibit aberrant protein arginine methylation by both type I arginine methyltransferases, predominately protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) and...
Multiple cancers exhibit aberrant protein arginine methylation by both type I arginine methyltransferases, predominately protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) and to a lesser extent PRMT4, and by type II PRMTs, predominately PRMT5. Here, we perform targeted proteomics following inhibition of PRMT1, PRMT4, and PRMT5 across 12 cancer cell lines. We find that inhibition of type I and II PRMTs suppresses phosphorylated and total ATR in cancer cells. Loss of ATR from PRMT inhibition results in defective DNA replication stress response activation, including from PARP inhibitors. Inhibition of type I and II PRMTs is synergistic with PARP inhibition regardless of homologous recombination function, but type I PRMT inhibition is more toxic to non-malignant cells. Finally, we demonstrate that the combination of PARP and PRMT5 inhibition improves survival in both BRCA-mutant and wild-type patient-derived xenografts without toxicity. Taken together, these results demonstrate that PRMT5 inhibition may be a well-tolerated approach to sensitize tumors to PARP inhibition.
Topics: Humans; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; Neoplasms; Cell Line; DNA Replication; Arginine; Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases; Repressor Proteins
PubMed: 38118413
DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101326