The m6A reader YTHDF1 regulates axon guidance through translational control of Robo3.1 expression

N-6-Methyladenosine (m(6)A) is a dynamic mRNA modification which regulates protein expression in various posttranscriptional levels. Functional studies of m(6)A in nervous system have focused on its writers and erasers so far, whether and how m(6)A readers mediate m(6)A functions through recognizing and binding their target mRNA remains poorly understood. Here, we find that the expression of axon guidance receptor Robo3.1 which plays important roles in midline crossing of spinal commissural axons is regulated precisely at translational level. The m(6)A reader YTHDF1 binds to and positively regulates translation of m(6)A-modified Robo3.1 mRNA. Either mutation of m(6)A sites in Robo3.1 mRNA or YTHDF1 knockdown or knockout leads to dramatic reduction of Robo3.1 protein without affecting Robo3.1 mRNA level. Specific ablation of Ythdf1 in spinal commissural neurons results in pre-crossing axon guidance defects. Our findings identify a mechanism that YTHDF1-mediated translation of m6A-modified Robo3.1 mRNA controls pre-crossing axon guidance in spinal cord.