Pterygium is a common eye surface disease with high recurrence and unclear pathogenesis. In current study, RNA sequencing was conducted in 6 pairs of human pterygium and conjunctival tissues, and Matr3 as a novel candidate gene was significantly reduced in pterygium compared to control tissues. Moreover, immunoprecipitation was performed to pull down MATR3, and WTAP specially interacting with MATR3 in control but not pterygium was identified by mass spectrum. Immunoprecipitation was performed to validate the interaction between MATR3 and WTAP/METTL3/METTL14 complex. (Methylated) RNA immunoprecipitation was performed to further reveal that the binding affinity of WTAP and MATR3 was lost at 3′ UTR of RNA molecules of down-regulated genes in pterygium. Overall, we figured out the loss of intercrossing between MATR3 and N6-methyladenosine methyltransferase complex, as well as indicated the potential impact on transcription of target genes in pterygium.

翼状胬肉是一种常见的眼表疾病，复发率高，发病机制尚不明确。本研究对6对人翼状胬肉和结膜组织进行了RNA测序，发现与对照组织相比， Matr3作为新型候选基因在翼状胬肉组织中显着减少。此外，进行免疫沉淀以降低MATR3，并通过质谱鉴定出WTAP与对照中的MATR3特异性相互作用，但与翼状胬肉不相互作用。进行免疫沉淀以验证 MATR3 和 WTAP/METTL3/METTL14 复合物之间的相互作用。进行（甲基化）RNA免疫沉淀以进一步揭示翼状胬肉中下调基因的RNA分子的3'UTR处WTAP和MATR3的结合亲和力丧失。总的来说，我们发现了 MATR3 和 N6-甲基腺苷甲基转移酶复合物之间交叉的丧失，并指出了对翼状胬肉中靶基因转录的潜在影响。