Abstract
Background/objective:
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of mRNA plays a role in regulating adipogenesis. However, its underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the most abundant catechin in green tea, plays a critical role in anti-obesity and anti-adipogenesis.
Methods:
High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–QqQ–MS/MS) was performed to determine the m6A levels in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The effects of EGCG on the m6A levels in specific genes were determined by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation coupled with quantitative real-time PCR (meRIP-qPCR). Several adipogenesis makers and cell cycle genes were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and western blotting. Lipid accumulation was evaluated by oil red O staining. All measurements were performed at least for three times.
Results:
Here we showed that EGCG inhibited adipogenesis by blocking the mitotic clonal expansion (MCE) at the early stage of adipocyte differentiation. Exposing 3T3-L1 cells to EGCG reduced the expression of fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) protein, an m6A demethylase, which led to increased overall levels of RNA m6A methylation. Cyclin A2 (CCNA2) and cyclin dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) play vital roles in MCE. The m6A levels of CCNA2 and CDK2 mRNA were dramatically enhanced by EGCG. Interestingly, EGCG increased the expression of YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein 2 (YTHDF2), which recognized and decayed methylated mRNAs, resulting in decreased protein levels of CCNA2 and CDK2. As a result, MCE was blocked and adipogenesis was inhibited. FTO overexpression and YTHDF2 knockdown in 3T3-L1 cells significantly increased CCNA2 and CDK2 protein levels and ameliorated the EGCG-induced adipogenesis inhibition. Thus, m6A-dependent CCNA2 and CDK2 expressions mediated by FTO and YTHDF2 contributed to EGCG-induced adipogenesis inhibition.
Conclusion:
Our findings provide mechanistic insights into how m6A is involved in the EGCG regulation of adipogenesis and shed light on its anti-obesity effect.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31572413) and the Special Fund for Cultivation and Breeding of New Transgenic Organism (No. 2014ZX0800949B).
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Wu, R., Yao, Y., Jiang, Q. et al. Epigallocatechin gallate targets FTO and inhibits adipogenesis in an mRNA m6A-YTHDF2-dependent manner. Int J Obes 42, 1378–1388 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-018-0082-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-018-0082-5
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