Methyltransferase-like protein 16 (METTL16) is an m6A RNA methyltransferase encoded by the METTL16 gene in humans.1 It is composed of a methyltransferase domain that associates with RNA and two vertebrate conserved regions (VCRs) on the C-terminal end that promote splicing.2 METTL16 acts as an epigenetic writer by methylating the pre-mRNA of the S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) synthetase MAT2A in the presence of SAM. It also methylates the adenine at position 43 of spliceosome component U6 snRNA and interacts with cancer-associated MALAT1 long non-coding RNA (lncRNA).3,1 Knockout of Mettl16 in mouse embryos leads to a reduction in Mat2a mRNA expression, transcriptome dysregulation, and lethality at approximately the implantation stage.4 The expression of METTL16 is increased in isolated human colon, but not rectal, adenocarcinoma tumor tissue, and decreased METTL16 expression in rectal adenocarcinoma tumor tissue is associated with lower overall survival.5WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.
