Activation of METTL3 Promotes White Adipose Tissue Beiging and Combats Obesity

The induction of beige adipocytes in white adipose tissue (WAT), also known as WAT beiging, improves glucose and lipid metabolism. However, the regulation of WAT beiging at the posttranscriptional level remains to be studied. Here, we report that METTL3, the methyltransferase of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) mRNA modification, is induced during WAT beiging in mice. Adipose-specific depletion of the Mettl3 gene undermines WAT beiging and impairs the metabolic capability of mice fed with a high-fat diet. Mechanistically, METTL3-catalyzed m6A installation on thermogenic mRNAs, including Krüppel-like factor 9 (Klf9), prevents their degradation. Activation of the METTL3 complex by its chemical ligand methyl piperidine-3-carboxylate promotes WAT beiging, reduces body weight, and corrects metabolic disorders in diet-induced obese mice. These findings uncover a novel epitranscriptional mechanism in WAT beiging and identify METTL3 as a potential therapeutic target for obesity-associated diseases.

METTL3, the methyltransferase of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) mRNA modification, is induced during WAT beiging. Depletion of Mettl3 undermines WAT beiging and impairs thermogenesis. METTL3-mediated m6A installation promotes the stability of Krüppel-like factor 9 (Klf9). KLF9 rescues impaired beiging elicited by Mettl3 depletion. Pharmaceutical activation of the METTL3 complex by its chemical ligand methyl piperidine-3-carboxylate induces WAT beiging. Methyl piperidine-3-carboxylate corrects obesity-associated disorders. The METTL3-KLF9 pathway may serve as a potential therapeutic target for obesity-associated diseases.