Decoding the interplay between m6A modification and stress granule stability by live-cell imaging

Sci Adv. 2024 Nov 15;10(46):eadp5689. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adp5689. Epub 2024 Nov 15.

Abstract

N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-modified mRNAs and their cytoplasmic reader YTHDFs are colocalized with stress granules (SGs) under stress conditions, but the interplay between m6A modification and SG stability remains unclear. Here, we presented a spatiotemporal m6A imaging system (SMIS) that can monitor the m6A modification and the translation of mRNAs with high specificity and sensitivity in a single live cell. SMIS showed that m6A-modified reporter mRNAs dynamically enriched into SGs under arsenite stress and gradually partitioned into the cytosol as SG disassembled. SMIS revealed that knockdown of YTHDF2 contributed to SG disassembly, resulting in the fast redistribution of mRNAs from SGs and rapid recovery of stalled translation. The mechanism is that YTHDF2 can regulate SG stability through the interaction with G3BP1 in m6A-modified RNA-dependent manner. Our results suggest a mechanism for the interplay between m6A modification and SG through YTHDF2 regulation.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine* / analogs & derivatives
  • Adenosine* / metabolism
  • Arsenites* / pharmacology
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / metabolism
  • DNA Helicases / genetics
  • DNA Helicases / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins* / genetics
  • Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins* / metabolism
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • RNA Helicases* / genetics
  • RNA Helicases* / metabolism
  • RNA Recognition Motif Proteins* / genetics
  • RNA Recognition Motif Proteins* / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger* / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger* / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins* / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins* / metabolism
  • Stress Granules* / metabolism
  • Stress, Physiological

Substances

  • Adenosine
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • N-methyladenosine
  • RNA Helicases
  • Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins
  • G3BP1 protein, human
  • RNA Recognition Motif Proteins
  • Arsenites
  • RNA, Messenger
  • DNA Helicases
  • YTHDF2 protein, human
  • arsenite