Transcriptome of control and FTO-knockdown HOC313 cells

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the major post-transcriptional modification present in mammalian mRNA. m6A controls fundamental biological processes including cell proliferation, but the molecular mechanism remains unclear. Herein, we demonstrate that the m6A demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) controls the cell cycle by targeting cyclin D1, the key regulator required for G1 phase progression. FTO silencing suppressed cyclin D1 expression and induced G1 arrest. FTO depletion upregulated cyclin D1 m6A modification, which in turn accelerated the degradation of cyclin D1 mRNA. Importantly, m6A modification of cyclin D1 oscillates in a cell cycle-dependent manner; m6A levels were suppressed during the G1 phase and enhanced during other phases. Low m6A levels during G1 were associated with nuclear translocation of FTO from the cytosol. Furthermore, nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of FTO is regulated by Casein Kinase II-mediated phosphorylation at Thr 150 of FTO. Our results highlight the role of m6A in regulating cyclin D1 mRNA stability, and add a new layer of complexity to cell cycle regulation. Overall design: Examination of RNA expression in 3 control and 3 FTO-knockdown cells, Examination m6A modification in control and FTO-knockdown HOC313 cells