Von Hippel Lindau tumor suppressor controls m6A-dependent gene expression in renal tumorigenesis

N6‐Methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant internal post‐translational modification, and its contribution to cancer evolution has recently been appreciated. Renal cancer is the most common adult genitourinary cancer, of which ~85% is accounted for by the clear cell subtype (ccRCC) characterized by VHL loss. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that VHL binds with m6A enzymatic complex proteins and promotes METTL3-METTL14 complex formation, and VHL depletion suppresses mRNA m6A modification. m6A RIP-seq coupled with RNA-seq in renal cells with or without VHL allowed us to identify a selection of genes whose expression may be regulated by m6A. Specifically, PIK3R3 is identified to be one critical gene whose mRNA stability is regulated by VHL in a m6A-dependent but HIF-independent manner. Functionally, PIK3R3 depletion promotes renal cancer cell growth and orthotopic tumor growth while vice versa. Mechanistically, PIK3R3 suppresses tumor growth by restraining PI3K/AKT activity. Taken together, we propose a new mechanism by which VHL regulates m6A through modulation of METTL3-METTL14 protein complex formation, thereby promoting PIK3R3 mRNA stability and protein level that is critical for regulating ccRCC tumorigenesis.