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METTL in Epigenetics and Disease

METTL proteins are a family of methyltransferase-like enzymes primarily involved in methylation, especially of RNA and DNA. Methylation is a key post-transcriptional or post-translational modification that affects gene expression, RNA stability, and protein function. METTL proteins function as methyltransferases, transferring methyl groups (–CH3) to various molecules—most notably nucleic acids and proteins. Aberrant expression of METTL proteins has been linked to several diseases, including cancer, neurological disorders, and developmental abnormalities.

 
Protein / Family Epigenetic Function Disease Association Key Publications Key Products
ALKBH5 m6A "eraser" – demethylase Infertility, cancer (glioblastoma, AML) Hehua et al., Nature. 2025

Proteins
FTO m6A "eraser" – demethylase Obesity, cancer, brain development disorders Ye et al., Int J Biol Macromol 2025

Antibodies

Proteins
Histones (H3K4me1/2 or H3K9me1/2) Gene activation (K4), repression (K9) directly interacting with METTL10 Hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer Xinyu et al., Oncol. Rev. 2025
METTL3 Protein methyltransferases, m6A methylation, some m7G modification of tRNA Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), various cancers (breast, colon, lung), hepatocellular carcinoma, glioblastoma, Intellectual disability, autism-like traits Gengwu et al., Eur J Med Chem. 2025
RBM15/15B Recruits METTL3/METTL14 to specific sites X-linked intellectual disability Wenxiang et al., Discov Onc. 2025

Antibodies
WDR4 Cofactor for METTL1 (tRNA methylation) Microcephalic primordial dwarfism Yongzhou et al., J of Adv Res. 2025
WTAP Regulatory subunit of METTL3/METTL14 complex Endometrial cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma Nan et al., Cell Death Discov. 2025

Antibodies
YTHDF1/2/3 m6A "readers" – interpret methylation marks Cancer progression, stress response Hung et al., Cell Reports. 2025
ZC3H13 Anchors METTL3 complex in the nucleus Linked to immune regulation, cancer (ongoing research) Jiaheng et al., J. Hematol. 2025

 

Additional Resources