journal article·2026-02Open access

WDR5‐H3K4me3 Epigenetic Axis Promotes TRMT6‐Dependent tRNA M 1 A Modification to Facilitate Triple‐Negative Breast Cancer Progression by Suppressing Ferroptosis

Yuqing Lei, Xue Wang, Jiahe Liu, Zixu Niu, Jiaqi Hua, Qian Guo, Dan Du, Yuanchang Zhu, Fucheng He, Mingxia Zhou, Hongle Li, Jing He, Jun Li

Advanced Science· Volume 13· Issue 11

Abstract

Abstract N 1 ‐methyladenosine (m 1 A) modification widely occurs in various RNAs, yet its pathophysiological function in tumorigenesis remains poorly understood. Notably, the expression and biological roles of tRNA m 1 A methyltransferase 6 noncatalytic subunit (TRMT6) in breast cancer, particularly in triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC), are unknown. Herein, it is demonstrated that TRMT6 is markedly elevated in TNBC, due to the H3K4me3 methylation modification occurring at the promoter region to enhance transcription. Through integrated analyses of m 1 A tRNA methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing, ribosome profiling sequencing, RNA sequencing and data‐independent acquisition mass spectrometry, ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1) is identified as a downstream target of TRMT6. Mechanistically, it is found that TRMT6 is responsible for the formation of m 1 A methylation on tRNAs, which increases the translation efficiency of FTH1. Besides, TRMT6 promotes ferritin light chain (FTL) expression at both transcriptional and translational levels, further reinforcing its role in iron metabolism. TRMT6 regulates the malignant progression of TNBC by modulating ferroptosis in tumor cells. Conclusively, the findings indicate that histone methylation‐driven TRMT6 is crucial for the translation of FTH1 and FTL, which bridges the understanding of m 1 A tRNA modification and ferroptosis. These results highlight TRMT6 as a novel potential therapeutic target for TNBC.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: RNA modifications and cancer · Ferroptosis and cancer prognosis · Cancer-related gene regulation

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Molecular Pathology The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou 450008 China

Department of Medical Laboratory The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou 450052 China

Department of Breast Surgery The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou 450052 China

Department of Rhinology The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou 450052 China

Department of Gastroenterology The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou 450052 China

Department of Gastroenterology The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou 450052 China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China

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