CircMETTL3, upregulated in a m6A-dependent manner, promotes breast cancer progression

Growing evidence indicates N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has biological function in oncogenesis. METTL3, the catalytic component, is the most important part of methyltransferase complex and plays a crucial role in cancers. However, the biological function of circRNAs derived from METTL3 in breast cancer and the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Herein, we report circMETTL3, which has not been explored in breast cancer, and it is markedly upregulated in breast cancer. Moreover, we uncovered that circMETTL3 could facilitate cell proliferation, migration and invasion in breast cancer. Mechanism investigation showed that circMETTL3 might act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-31-5p and upregulate its target cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK1). Moreover, m6A modification of circMETTL3 might affect its expression. Taken together, our results elucidate that circMETTL3 promotes breast cancer progression through circMETTL3/miR-31-5p/CDK1 axis. Moreover, METTL3, the host gene of circMETTL3, may regulate circMETTL3 expression in an m6A-dependent manner, while circMETTL3 has no effect on METTL3 expression, providing a new relationship between the circRNA and the corresponding host gene. Thus, it may serve as a new therapeutic target for breast cancer.

Automated summary

The newly discovered circMETTL3 in breast cancer is significantly upregulated and may play a crucial role in promoting cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. It functions as a ceRNA of miR-31-5p, potentially upregulating CDK1, and its m6A modification could influence its expression, suggesting a new therapeutic target for breast cancer.