UVB promotes melanogenesis by regulating METTL3

Abstract Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the primary exogenous inducer of skin pigmentation, although the mechanism has not been fully elucidated. N6‐methyladenosine (m 6 A) modification is one of the key epigenetic form of gene regulation that affects multiple biological processes. The aim of this study was to explore the role and underlying mechanisms of m 6 A modification in UVB‐induced melanogenesis. Low‐dose UVB increased global m 6 A modification in melanocytes (MCs) and MNT1 melanoma cell line. The GEPIA database predicted that methyltransferase METTL3 is positively correlated with the melanogenic transcription factor MITF in the sun‐exposed skin tissues. After METTL3 respectively overexpressed and knocked down in the MNT1, the melanin content and melanogenesis‐related genes were significantly upregulated after overexpression of METTL3, especially with UVB irradiation, and downregulated after METTL3 knockdown. METTL3 levels were also higher in melanocytic nevi with high melanin content. METTL3 overexpression and knockdown also altered the protein level of YAP1. SRAMP analysis predicted four high‐potential m 6 A modification sites on YAP1 mRNA, of which three were confirmed by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation. Inhibition of YAP1 expression can partially reverse melanogenesis induced by overexpression of METTL3. In conclusion, UVB irradiation promotes global m 6 A modification in MCs and upregulates METTL3, which increases the expression level of YAP1 through m 6 A modification, thereby activating the co‐transcription factor TEAD1 and promoting melanogenesis.