RNA methylase RBM15 facilitates malignant progression of colorectal cancer through regulating E2F2 in an m6A modification‐dependent manner

Abstract Recently, RBM15 has emerged as an oncogenic factor in a majority of tumors. However, the mechanism is unclear that accounts for how RBM15‐induces colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and it is in need of further study. We determined RBM15 expression through the UALCAN database and RT‐qPCR. The role of RBM15 in inducing the malignant and aggressive cancerous phenotype was characterized based on the results of the western blot, RT‐qPCR, CCK‐8 and transwell assays. The target genes of RBM15 were screened by LinkedOmics. m6A methylation kit was applied to analyze the methylation levels of mRNA. SRAMP website was employed to predict m6A sites of targeted mRNA. RIP, dual luciferase reporter gene and actinomycin D assay were conducted to verify the interactions between RBM15 and its targeted gene, and the presence of m6A modification site of its targeted mRNA, respectively. We confirmed the augmentation of RBM15 expression in CRC, which also has a high clinical diagnostic value for CRC. Functionally, RBM15 silencing clearly restrained malignant cellular processes in CRC cells. Mechanistically, RBM15 bound to E2F2 which increased its m6A binding and stabilized the corresponding E2F2 mRNA formation. Excessive E2F2 largely restored the repression malignant phenotype of tumor cells caused by RBM15 silencing. RBM15 regulated E2F2 in an m6A modification‐dependent manner thereby boosting malignant cellular processes in CRC. The RBM15/E2F2 axis may be a novel target for CRC therapy.