The catalytic efficiency of METTL16 affects cellular processes by governing the intracellular S-adenosylmethionine setpoint

Summary: The methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) regulates many cellular processes. The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase METTL16 regulates the expression of the SAM synthetase MAT2A, but the consequences of this regulation are not well documented. Here, we used a degron and complementa...

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Main Authors: Juliana N. Flaherty, Enakshi Sivasudhan, Matthew Tegowski, Zheng Xing, Madeline M. McGinnis, Olga V. Hunter, Kyah M. Featherston, Komal Sethia, Benjamin P. Tu, Kate D. Meyer, Nicholas K. Conrad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Cell Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124725007375
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Summary:Summary: The methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) regulates many cellular processes. The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase METTL16 regulates the expression of the SAM synthetase MAT2A, but the consequences of this regulation are not well documented. Here, we used a degron and complementation strategy in HCT116 cells to demonstrate that disruption of MAT2A regulation by METTL16 influences SAM-dependent processes including histone methylation, translation, and RNA methylation. We also identify U6 snRNA pseudogenes as METTL16 substrates. Complementation by a catalytically hyperactive METTL16 complements its methyltransferase activities but decreases intracellular SAM concentrations by abrogating MAT2A regulation. Moreover, these cells are hypersensitive to treatment with a MAT2A inhibitor and to deletion of the MTAP gene, which is lost in ∼15% of cancers. These findings support the conclusion that the catalytic efficiency of METTL16 helps establish the SAM setpoint in cells and suggest that this function could be exploited as a treatment for MTAP-deficient cancers.
ISSN:2211-1247