Protein arginine methylation promotes global 3'UTR shortening in proliferating cells.

Protein arginine methylation drives global 3'UTR shortening in proliferating cells, with inhibition reversing this effect across multiple human and murine models.

• Why it matters: Understanding how PRMTs influence transcript isoform regulation is crucial because 3'UTR shortening can promote oncogenic isoforms and impact cancer progression and immune responses.
• What they did: The study used inhibition of asymmetric and symmetric dimethylation (DMAi) in human cancer cell lines, patient-derived organoids, and activated murine T cells, examining effects on 3'UTR length and poly(A) site processing.
• The result: Findings suggest PRMTs facilitate 3'UTR shortening by promoting PCF11 association with the polyadenylation machinery, highlighting potential for targeted therapies in oncology and immune diseases.