Specifically recognizes and binds N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-containing RNAs, and regulates their stability ( , ). M6A is a modification present at internal sites of mRNAs and some non-coding RNAs and plays a role in mRNA stability and processing (  ). Acts as a regulator of mRNA stability by promoting degradation of m6A-containing mRNAs via interaction with the CCR4-NOT complex or PAN3 . The YTHDF paralogs (YTHDF1, YTHDF2 and YTHDF3) share m6A-containing mRNAs targets and act redundantly to mediate mRNA degradation and cellular differentiation ( ). Acts as a negative regulator of type I interferon response by down-regulating interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) expression: acts by binding to FOXO3 mRNAs (By similarity). Binds to FOXO3 mRNAs independently of METTL3-mediated m6A modification (By similarity). Can also act as a regulator of mRNA stability in cooperation with YTHDF2 by binding to m6A-containing mRNA and promoting their degradation . Recognizes and binds m6A-containing circular RNAs (circRNAs); circRNAs are generated through back-splicing of pre-mRNAs, a non-canonical splicing process promoted by dsRNA structures across circularizing exons . Promotes formation of phase-separated membraneless compartments, such as P-bodies or stress granules, by undergoing liquid-liquid phase separation upon binding to mRNAs containing multiple m6A-modified residues: polymethylated mRNAs act as a multivalent scaffold for the binding of YTHDF proteins, juxtaposing their disordered regions and thereby leading to phase separation ( ). The resulting mRNA-YTHDF complexes then partition into different endogenous phase-separated membraneless compartments, such as P-bodies, stress granules or neuronal RNA granules . May also recognize and bind N1-methyladenosine (m1A)-containing mRNAs: inhibits trophoblast invasion by binding to m1A-methylated transcripts of IGF1R, promoting their degradation .
Has some antiviral activity against HIV-1 virus: incorporated into HIV-1 particles in a nucleocapsid-dependent manner and reduces viral infectivity in the next cycle of infection . May interfere with this early step of the viral life cycle by binding to N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modified sites on the HIV-1 RNA genome .
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Cytosol, Cytoplasm, P-body, Cytoplasm, Stress granule