Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 23, 2025

miRNA Expression Analyses in Prostate Cancer Clinical Tissues
11:29

miRNA Expression Analyses in Prostate Cancer Clinical Tissues

Published on: September 8, 2015

10.9K

The METTL3 RNA Methyltransferase Regulates Transcriptional Networks in Prostate Cancer

Daisy B Haigh1,2, Corinne L Woodcock1,2, Jennifer Lothion-Roy1,2

  • 1Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.

Cancers
|October 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

METTL3, a key regulator of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification, is aberrantly expressed in prostate cancer (PCa). Targeting m6A offers a novel strategy to modulate androgen signaling in PCa.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major cause of cancer mortality, driven by androgen receptor (AR) signaling.
  • Androgen deprivation therapies (ADTs) are standard treatments, targeting androgen biosynthesis or AR signaling inhibition (ARSi).
  • N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification, regulated by METTL3, influences gene expression and is implicated in cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate METTL3 expression in PCa patients.
  • To determine the clinical and functional relevance of METTL3 in PCa.
  • To explore the role of METTL3 and m6A in androgen signaling within PCa.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of METTL3 expression in PCa patient samples.
  • siRNA-mediated knockdown of METTL3.
  • Pharmacological inhibition of METTL3.
  • Transcriptome analysis to assess changes in gene expression.

Main Results:

  • METTL3 is aberrantly expressed in PCa patient samples.
  • METTL3 knockdown or inhibition significantly alters the basal and androgen-regulated transcriptome in PCa.
  • These findings suggest a critical role for METTL3 in regulating androgen signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

  • METTL3 plays a significant role in prostate cancer progression and androgen signaling.
  • Targeting m6A RNA modification represents a promising novel therapeutic strategy for PCa.
  • Further research into METTL3 inhibition could lead to new treatments for PCa.
Keywords:
METTL3RNA methylationandrogen receptorendocrine driven cancerm6Amolecular signallingprostate cancertherapeutic

More Related Videos

Sequencing Small Non-coding RNA from Formalin-fixed Tissues and Serum-derived Exosomes from Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer Patients12:13

Sequencing Small Non-coding RNA from Formalin-fixed Tissues and Serum-derived Exosomes from Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer Patients

Published on: November 19, 2019

6.9K
MicroRNA Detection in Prostate Tumors by Quantitative Real-time PCR qPCR08:30

MicroRNA Detection in Prostate Tumors by Quantitative Real-time PCR qPCR

Published on: May 16, 2012

24.6K

Related Concept Videos

Master Transcription Regulators02:23

Master Transcription Regulators

Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a  complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
7.0K
Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps01:23

Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps

The gene expression in cells is regulated at different stages: (i) transcription, (ii) RNA processing, (iii) RNA localization, and (iv) translation. Transcriptional regulation is mediated by regulatory proteins such as transcription factors, activators, or repressors—these control gene expression by initiating or inhibiting the transcription of genes. Once a precursor or pre-mRNA is produced, it undergoes post-transcriptional modification, including 5' capping, splicing, and the...
976
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
3.9K
Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
3.1K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
21.5K
Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps02:24

Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps

Gene expression can be regulated at almost every step from gene to protein. Transcription is the step that is most commonly regulated. This involves the binding of proteins to short regulatory sequences on the DNA. This association can either promote or inhibit the transcription of a gene associated with the respective sequence.
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
23.0K