
complex crystal structures with structure-based drug
designs was another effective method for finding
inhibitors with chemical scaffolds (You et al. 2022).
Rhein, a Rheum rhabarbarum-rich anthraquinone,
was discovered to be one of the most competitive,
cell-active, reversible inhibitors of FTO. Rhein
inhibited FTO by either competitively binding to the
2-oxoglutarate (2-OG) cofactor at the active site,
directly binding to nucleic acids, or both.
Traditional medicine sources have recently been a
new way of finding new agents targeting m6A, with
the assistant of AI and traditional medicines
databases. For instance, the TCM Systems
Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform
(TCMSP) has approximately 30 thousand ingredients
of five hundred kinds of Chinese herbal medicine, and
more than three thousand targets. Moreover, with the
combination of AI, it could collect and analyze data
of different demethylases and methylases, such as the
site of modification, and the antigen it downregulates,
the side effect it exhibits, etc. Then AI will give a
prediction of the targeted drugs based on this
information. Scientists are able to use these designs
and perhaps make changes based on the models. Thus
the costs of developing drugs and inhibitors of such
methylates and demethylases will significantly
decrease, and the time will shorten. More and more
effective m6A inhibitors and drugs targeting them
will be approved in the future (Deng et al. 2022).
7 CONCLUSION
m6A modification is actively involved in the
development of cervical cancer, through regulating
RNA stability, translation, and degradation.
Methyltransferase complexes (MTC) such as writers
(METTL3, METTL14, WTAP), erasers (FTO,
ALKBH5), and readers (IGF2BP1, YTHDC1/2)
promote tumor growth, translation, immune response,
cell proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance.
These enzymes promote tumor growth by
downregulating tumor suppressor genes or
upregulating oncogenes. For instance, METTL3
stabilizes FOXD2-AS1, inhibiting the expression of
p21, while FTO and ALKBH5 enhances
tumorgenesis by controlling cell apoptosis,
proliferation, and metastasis. m6A modifications
exist on noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as
lncRNAs, circRNAs, and miRNAs. Oncogenic
lncRNAs like DARS-AS1 and FOXD2-AS1 promote
tumor growth, knockdown of these genes inhibit
proliferation and induces apoptosis. Abnormal
miRNA expression linked to cervical cancer.
circRNAs contribute to regulation of genes and
therapeutic resistance.
m6A regulators offers a promising therapeutic
strategy. For instance, small molecules enhancing
METTL3-METTL14 activity, and METTL3
inhibitors are being discovered. Furthermore, m6A
modifications serve as prognostic, diagnostic, and
predictive biomarkers. The METTL3/YTHDF1/HK2
axis links m6A to cancer metabolism, and FTO levels
correlate with advanced-stage cervical cancer.
Discoveries of drugs targeting m6A modulators
include Curcumin, Quercetin, Meclofenamic acid and
Rhein. Curcumin reduces ALKBH5 expression.
Quercetin inhibits expression of METTL3, leading to
decreased cancer cell proliferation. Meclofenamic
acid and Rhein are inhibitors of FTO. AI and
traditional medicine databases aid in finding new
inhibitors through analyzing demethylases,
methylases, and drug interactions, reducing costs and
accelerating drug development. The continued
research in this field holds great promise for
improving diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment
strategies for cervical cancer patients.
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