M6A reduction relieves FUS-associated ALS granules

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease due to gradual motoneurons (MN) degeneration. Among the processes associated to ALS pathogenesis, there is the formation of cytoplasmic inclusions produced by aggregation of mutant proteins, among which the RNA binding protein FUS. Here we show that, in neuronal cells and in iPSC-derived MN expressing mutant FUS, such inclusions are significantly reduced in number and dissolve faster when the RNA m(6)A content is diminished. Interestingly, stress granules formed in ALS conditions showed a distinctive transcriptome with respect to control cells, which reverted to similar to control after m(6)A downregulation. Notably, cells expressing mutant FUS were characterized by higher m(6)A levels suggesting a possible link between m(6)A homeostasis and pathological aggregates. Finally, we show that FUS inclusions are reduced also in patient-derived fibroblasts treated with STM-2457, an inhibitor of METTL3 activity, paving the way for its possible use for counteracting aggregate formation in ALS.