Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 5, 2026

A Method for Measuring RNA N6-methyladenosine Modifications in Cells and Tissues
08:56

A Method for Measuring RNA N6-methyladenosine Modifications in Cells and Tissues

Published on: December 5, 2016

12.0K

A METTL3-METTL14 complex mediates mammalian nuclear RNA N6-adenosine methylation

Jianzhao Liu1, Yanan Yue1, Dali Han2

  • 11] Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. [2] Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. [3].

Nature Chemical Biology
|December 10, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) is identified as a key enzyme in catalyzing N(6)-methyladenosine (m(6)A) RNA methylation. This protein forms a complex with METTL3, crucial for m(6)A deposition in mammalian cells.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • N(6)-methyladenosine (m(6)A) is the most abundant internal RNA modification in eukaryotes.
  • m(6)A is dynamically regulated and plays critical roles in various cellular processes.
  • The enzymes responsible for m(6)A deposition were not fully characterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize novel components of the m(6)A methyltransferase complex.
  • To elucidate the function of METTL14 in m(6)A RNA methylation.

Main Methods:

  • Protein complex purification and characterization.
  • In vitro RNA methylation assays.
  • Analysis of protein-protein interactions.

Main Results:

  • Human methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) was found to catalyze m(6)A RNA methylation.
  • METTL14 forms a stable heterodimer with METTL3, the previously known m(6)A methyltransferase.
  • The METTL3-METTL14 complex is responsible for cellular m(6)A deposition on mammalian nuclear RNAs.
  • WTAP, a splicing factor, interacts with the METTL3-METTL14 complex and influences m(6)A methylation.

Conclusions:

  • METTL14 is a crucial component of the m(6)A methyltransferase complex.
  • The METTL3-METTL14 heterodimer is the core catalytic unit for m(6)A methylation in mammalian cells.
  • WTAP modulates the activity of the m(6)A methyltransferase complex.

More Related Videos

Dot Blot Assay for Detecting Global N6-Methyladenosine RNA Modification Levels08:40

Dot Blot Assay for Detecting Global N6-Methyladenosine RNA Modification Levels

Published on: February 6, 2026

253
Characterizing RNA Modifications in Single Neurons Using Mass Spectrometry08:45

Characterizing RNA Modifications in Single Neurons Using Mass Spectrometry

Published on: April 21, 2022

3.4K

Related Concept Videos

Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing02:41

Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing

In eukaryotic cells, nascent mRNA transcripts need to undergo many post-transcriptional modifications to reach the cell cytoplasm and translate into functional proteins. For a long time, transcription and pre-mRNA processing were considered two independent events that occur sequentially in the cell. However, it has now been well established that transcription and pre-mRNA processing are two simultaneous processes that are precisely regulated inside the cell.
The chromatin structure, especially...
6.6K
RNA Stability01:53

RNA Stability

Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...
31.6K
RNA Editing02:23

RNA Editing

RNA editing is a post-transcriptional modification where a precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) nucleotide sequence is changed by base insertion, deletion, or modification. The extent of RNA editing varies from a few hundred bases, in mitochondrial DNA of trypanosomes, to a just single base, in nuclear genes of mammals. Even a single base change in the pre-mRNA can convert a codon for one amino acid into the codon for another amino acid or a stop codon. This type of re-coding can significantly affect the...
8.3K
Ribosomal RNA Synthesis02:53

Ribosomal RNA Synthesis

Ribosome synthesis is a highly complex and coordinated process involving more than 200 assembly factors. The synthesis and processing of ribosomal components occurs not only in the nucleolus but also in the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells.
Ribosome biogenesis begins with the synthesis of 5S and 45S pre-rRNAs by distinct RNA polymerases. The primary transcripts are extensively processed and modified before they are bound and folded by ribosomal proteins and assembly factors,...
12.3K
Nucleic Acid Structure01:25

Nucleic Acid Structure

The pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the pentose sugar is ribose. The difference between the sugars is the presence of the hydroxyl group on the ribose's second carbon and a hydrogen on the deoxyribose's second carbon. The phosphate residue attaches to the hydroxyl group of the 5′ carbon of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of the 3′ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide, which forms  a 5′ to 3′ phosphodiester linkage.
DNA Structure
DNA...
8.1K
Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends01:35

Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends

In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps...
14.2K