Identification of m6A-modified YTHDF2 targets by high-throughput m6A-seq and RIP-seq in HBV-infected HepG2 cells [RIP-seq]

We investigated the role of O-GlcNAcylation of m6A reader YTHDF2 in HBV-related hepatocarcinogenesis and progression. We found that YTHDF2 O-GlcNAcylation was elevated upon HBV infection through upregulated HBP. OGT-mediated YTHDF2 O-GlcNAcylation at Ser263 enhanced its protein stability, and subsequently changed the gene expression profiles. Mechanistically, we identified YTHDF2 stabilized minichromosome maintenance protein 2 (MCM2) and MCM5 mRNAs in an m6A dependent manner by high-throughput profiling of m6A-seq and RIP-seq, thereby promoting HBV-related HCC tumorigenesis. Importantly, our study proposed that targeting OGT-mediated YTHDF2 O-GlcNAcylation may be a novel strategy for potential treatment of HBV-associated liver cancer. Overall design: Identification of YTHDF2 targets by high-throughput RIP-seq.