METTL14 and WTAP play a crucial role in the regulation of bovine preadipocyte differentiation

m6A methylation is the most common mRNA modification in mammals and plays a significant role in regulating various biological functions. Some studies have demonstrated that the methyltransferase <i>METTL3</i> can promote adipogenesis. However, the regulatory mechanisms of <i>METTL14</i> and <i>WTAP</i>, both methyltransferases, in adipogenesis remain unclear. This study investigated their effects on bovine preadipocyte differentiation using siRNA-mediated knockdown combined with transcriptomic analysis. Silencing <i>METTL14</i> and <i>WTAP</i> significantly impaired lipid droplet formation and revealed distinct regulatory pathways: <i>METTL14</i> knockdown affected genes like <i>JAK2</i> and <i>STAT3</i>, while <i>WTAP</i> suppression down-regulated <i>PPARγ/FABP4</i> signalling pathway components. These findings demonstrate that <i>WTAP</i> specifically modulates bovine adipocyte differentiation through the <i>PPARγ/FABP4</i> pathway.