N6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader IGF2BP1 accelerates gastric cancer aerobic glycolysis in c-Myc-dependent manner

Abstract

The N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and metastasis formation in multiple cancers. However, the biological significance of RNA m⁶A reader IGF2BP1 and the modification of IGF2BP1 itself have not been fully investigated. Here, we analyzed the functions and mechanism of IGF2BP1 in gastric cancer (GC). Results showed that IGF2BP1 upregulated in GC tissue and acted as a predictor of poor prognosis for GC patients. Functionally, IGF2BP1 promoted the migration and aerobic glycolysis of GC cells in vitro. Moreover, IGF2BP1 knockdown repressed the tumor growth in vivo. We also demonstrated that IGF2BP1 directly interacted with c-MYC mRNA via m6A-dependent manner to by stabilize its stability. Overall, these findings demonstrated that m⁶A reader IGF2BP1 facilitated the carcinogenic of GC in m⁶A/c-Myc-dependent manner, which might provide critical therapeutic strategy for GC.

Keywords: Aerobic glycolysis; Gastric cancer; IGF2BP1; N(6)-methyladenosine; c-Myc.