METTL1-mediated m⁷G tRNA modification drives papillary thyroid cancer progression and metastasis by regulating the codon-specific translation of TNF-α.

ABSTRACT: N7-methylguanosine (m⁷G) modification of transfer RNA (tRNA) is essential for the biological functions of tRNAs and has been found to play a regulatory role in a variety of human cancers. However, the biological function of METTL1-mediated m⁷G tRNA modification in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is unclear. Here, we found that METTL1 is significantly upregulated in PTC tissues compared to normal control tissues and is associated with poor PTC prognosis. Functional analysis confirmed that METTL1 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of PTC cells in a manner dependent on its tRNA methyltransferase activity. Mechanistically, METTL1 knockdown leads to a decrease in the abundance of certain m⁷G-modified tRNAs, which suppresses the m⁷G tRNA modifica

SUBMITTER: Li W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12075834 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature