tRNA N(3)-cytidine methyltransferase METTL6
tRNA (cytidine-3-)-methyltransferase activity
Structural basis for METTL6-mediated m3C RNA methylation.
RNA modifications play important roles in mediating the biological functions of RNAs. 3-methylcytidine (m3C), albeit less abundant, is found to exist extensively in tRNAs, rRNAs and mRNAs. Human METTL6 is a m<sup>3</sup>C methyltransferase for tRNAs, including tRNA<sup>SER(UGA)</sup>. We solved the structure of human METTL6 in the presence of S-adenosyl-L-methionine and found by enzyme assay that recombinant human METTL6 is active towards tRNA<sup>SER(UGA)</sup>. Structural analysis indicated the detailed interactions between S-adenosyl-L-methionine and METTL6, and suggested potential tRNA binding region on the surface of METTL6. The structural research, complemented by biochemistry enzyme assay, will definitely shed light on the design of potent inhibitors for METTL6 in near future.