m(6)A modification regulates cell proliferation via reprogramming the balance between glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway.

N6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) stands as the predominant modification in eukaryotic mRNA and is involved in various biological functions. Aberrant m(6)A has been implicated in abnormal cellular phenotypes, including defects in stem cell differentiation and tumorigenesis. However, the precise effects of m(6)A on cell proliferation and the underlining mechanism of metabolic gene regulation remain incompletely understood. Here, we established a cellular environment with low-m(6)A levels and observed a severe impairment of cell proliferation. Mechanistic studies revealed that the depletion of m(6)A on TIGAR mRNA led to increased expression, subsequently inhibiting glycolysis while promoting the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). A genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen identified numerous genes involved in cell proliferation that are sensitive to m(6)A modification, with G6PD emerging as a key regulator. Integration of gene expression and survival data from cancer patients suggested that patients with elevated G6PD expression may exhibit enhanced responsiveness to tumor growth inhibition through m(6)A suppression. Our findings elucidate the critical role of m(6)A in cell proliferation, highlighting the therapeutic potential of targeting m(6)A-mediated metabolic pathways in cancer.