Protein arginine methylation found to drive widespread 3′UTR shortening in dividing cells
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A study by Griffith and colleagues, published in Molecular Cell on October 21, 2026, identifies protein arginine methylation as a mechanism that promotes global shortening of mRNA 3′UTRs in proliferating cells. Methylation supports the assembly of PCF11 into the cleavage and polyadenylation machinery, biasing it toward producing short mRNA isoforms in rapidly dividing cells. Inhibitors of PRMT enzymes reversed the effect, globally lengthening 3′UTRs in cancer cells, organoids, and T cells. The findings connect a druggable epigenetic modification to alternative polyadenylation, suggesting PRMT inhibition as a way to manipulate mRNA isoform production in proliferating and malignant cells.
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- CellPickProtein arginine methylation promotes global 3′UTR shortening in proliferating cells
Griffith et al. report in Molecular Cell that protein arginine methylation drives production of short mRNA isoforms in rapidly dividing cells by promoting PCF11 assembly into the cleavage and polyadenylation machinery. PRMT inhibitors broadly lengthen 3'UTRs in cancer cells, organoids, and T cells, revealing a targetable link between methylation and alternative polyadenylation.
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