Epitranscriptomic modifications, particularly N6-methyladenosine (m6A), have emerged as critical regulators of RNA stability, localization, and translation, shaping immune responses and tumor progression. In B-cell biology, m6A modifications influence germinal center formation and antigen-driven differentiation, underscoring their importance in immune regulation. Among m6A regulators, ALKBH5 (RNA demethylase) is pivotal in removing methylation marks and modulating gene expression in diverse cellular contexts. Despite advancements in understanding m6A dynamics, the mechanistic interplay between m6A demethylation and B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathways still needs to be explored. This study reveals a novel regulatory axis involving ALKBH5, treRNA1 (Translation Regulatory Long Non-Coding RNA 1), and DDX46 (RNA helicase). Upon activation signals, ALKBH5 and treRNA1 translocate to the nucleus, forming a functional complex with DDX46 to orchestrate the removal of m6A modifications on key transcripts, including those involved in BCR signaling. This demethylation enhances transcript stability and facilitates cytoplasmic export through interaction with the RNA-binding protein HuR, promoting efficient translation. Disruption of this axis, via loss of ALKBH5, DDX46, or treRNA1, led to impaired transcript processing and diminished BCR-related gene expression, highlighting the critical role of m6A demethylation in maintaining RNA dynamics. These findings uncover a previously unrecognized epitranscriptomic mechanism driven by the ALKBH5-treRNA1-DDX46 complex, with significant implications for B-cell functionality, immune regulation, and oncogenic pathways. Targeting this axis offers a promising avenue for developing therapeutic strategies in cancer and immune-related disorders where m6A dysregulation plays a central role.

Deubiquitinases (DUBs) have long been viewed through the narrow lens of enzymatic catalysis, but emerging evidence reveals their non-catalytic domains as master regulators of oncogenic signaling. USP11, a structurally modular DUB, exemplifies this duality: beyond its canonical role in DNA repair, USP11 scaffolds key translational effectors such as eIF4B, sustaining the expression of pro-survival oncogenes in aggressive lymphomas. Here, we unveil RBF4 and RBF11, first-in-class, non-catalytic USP11 inhibitors discovered through pharmacophore-guided virtual screening anchored on the UBL domain interface. These small molecules selectively bind USP11 without disrupting its catalytic activity yet interrupt critical interactions essential for eIF4B stabilization and oncogenic translation. Mechanistically, USP11 inhibition collapses MYC-driven translational networks, destabilizes DNA repair factors, rewires calcium homeostasis, and induces a post-transcriptional apoptotic program while sparing non-malignant cells. RBF4, chemically identical to the FDA-approved anti-arrhythmic agent Dronedarone, exhibits potent antitumor efficacy in orthotopic EμMyc lymphoma models, suppressing tumor growth, metastatic spread, and ascites formation with no overt toxicity. Transcriptomic analyses reveal broad rewiring of EMT, immune, and metabolic programs, underscoring USP11's role as a nodal regulator of tumor cell identity and plasticity. These findings establish the UBL domain of USP11 as a druggable scaffold, redefining DUBs not merely as enzymes but as structural signaling platforms. RBF4 emerges as a clinically actionable prototype for dismantling USP11-driven oncogenic circuits, illuminating a new therapeutic axis in lymphoid malignancies and beyond. ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: Potent, selective USP11 inhibitors exhibit anti-tumor activity.