New archaeal methyltransferases forming 1-methyladenosine or 1-methyladenosine and 1-methylguanosine at position 9 of tRNA

Nucleic Acids Res. 2010 Oct;38(19):6533-43. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkq451. Epub 2010 Jun 4.

Abstract

Two archaeal tRNA methyltransferases belonging to the SPOUT superfamily and displaying unexpected activities are identified. These enzymes are orthologous to the yeast Trm10p methyltransferase, which catalyses the formation of 1-methylguanosine at position 9 of tRNA. In contrast, the Trm10p orthologue from the crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius forms 1-methyladenosine at the same position. Even more surprisingly, the Trm10p orthologue from the euryarchaeon Thermococcus kodakaraensis methylates the N(1)-atom of either adenosine or guanosine at position 9 in different tRNAs. This is to our knowledge the first example of a tRNA methyltransferase with a broadened nucleoside recognition capability. The evolution of tRNA methyltransferases methylating the N(1) atom of a purine residue is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Adenosine / metabolism
  • Archaeal Proteins / classification
  • Archaeal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Biocatalysis
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Guanosine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Guanosine / metabolism
  • RNA, Transfer / chemistry
  • RNA, Transfer / metabolism
  • Sulfolobus acidocaldarius / enzymology
  • Thermococcus / enzymology
  • tRNA Methyltransferases / classification
  • tRNA Methyltransferases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Archaeal Proteins
  • Guanosine
  • 1-methyladenosine
  • 1-methylguanosine
  • RNA, Transfer
  • tRNA Methyltransferases
  • tRNA (adenine(58)-N(1))-methyltransferase
  • tRNA (guanine-N1-)-methyltransferase
  • Adenosine