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Targeting the METTL1/m7G Axis as a Therapeutic Strategy in Myeloid Leukemia

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Authors:
L. Ren; H. Zhang; O. Bobileva; F. Nai; H. Bi; A. Chan; G.E. Baker; L. Dong; D. Guarin; W. Hu; W. Li; I. Leite; X. Wang; X. Zhang; M. Xue; H. Wang; H. Qin; X. Wu; L. Ghoda; L. Xu; B. Zhang; L. Li; M. Wunderlich; J.C. Mulloy; C.L. Jones; S.E. O’Leary; H. Li; S.T. Rosen; C.D. Chen; N. Heisterkamp; J.J.P. Perry; Y. Nam; J. Chen; A. Caflisch; X. Li; R. Su

Journal: Blood
Year: 2026
Volume: X
Issue: X
DOI: 10.1182/blood.2025030336
Type of Publication: Journal Article

Abstract:

N7-methylguanosine (m7G), a prevalent modification in tRNAs, is primarily catalyzed by the methyltransferase METTL1. While growing evidence supports a role for METTL1 in various tumors, its therapeutic potential and precise function in leukemia stem cell (LSC) homeostasis remain largely unexplored. Here, we identify METTL1 as a key regulator of LSC self-renewal and homing within bone marrow (BM) microenvironment through catalyzing m7G formation on a specific tRNA, tRNAPheGAA, thereby driving leukemogenesis. Mechanistically, METTL1 loss significantly reduces m7G abundance and steady-state levels of tRNAPheGAA, leading to translation suppression and degradation of transcripts enriched with tRNAPheGAA-related codons, such as tyrosine-protein kinase HCK. Decreased HCK expression disrupts CXCR4 signaling, impairing LSC self-renewal and BM homing. Therapeutically, we characterize a small-molecule METTL1 inhibitor (M1i; NSC137443), through high throughput screening. Pharmacological inhibition of METTL1 demonstrates potent anti-tumor efficacy by reduction of tRNA m7G levels and disrupting the tRNAPheGAA/HCK/CXCR4 cascade. Notably, targeting METTL1 significantly reduces LSC frequency, delays leukemogenesis, and prolongs survival in multiple acute myeloid leukemia models. Our findings establish a previously unrecognized role for METTL1 and its target tRNAPheGAA in LSC homeostasis and provide compelling proof-of-concept evidence that METTL1 is a druggable epitranscriptomic target for anti-leukemia therapy.