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Journal of Hematology & Oncology
Published in: Journal of Hematology & Oncology 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Review

Roles of METTL3 in cancer: mechanisms and therapeutic targeting

Authors: Chengwu Zeng, Wanxu Huang, Yangqiu Li, Hengyou Weng

Published in: Journal of Hematology & Oncology | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant mRNA modification and is catalyzed by the methyltransferase complex, in which methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) is the sole catalytic subunit. Accumulating evidence in recent years reveals that METTL3 plays key roles in a variety of cancer types, either dependent or independent on its m6A RNA methyltransferase activity. While the roles of m6A modifications in cancer have been extensively reviewed elsewhere, the critical functions of METTL3 in various types of cancer, as well as the potential targeting of METTL3 as cancer treatment, have not yet been highlighted. Here we summarize our current understanding both on the oncogenic and tumor-suppressive functions of METTL3, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms. The well-documented protein structure of the METTL3/METTL14 heterodimer provides the basis for potential therapeutic targeting, which is also discussed in this review.
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Metadata
Title
Roles of METTL3 in cancer: mechanisms and therapeutic targeting
Authors
Chengwu Zeng
Wanxu Huang
Yangqiu Li
Hengyou Weng
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Hematology & Oncology / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1756-8722
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13045-020-00951-w

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