NSUN4 Is a Dual Function Mitochondrial Protein Required for Both Methylation of 12S rRNA and Coordination of Mitoribosomal Assembly

Biogenesis of mammalian mitochondrial ribosomes requires a concerted maturation of both the small (SSU) and large subunit (LSU). We demonstrate here that the m⁵C methyltransferase NSUN4, which forms a complex with MTERF4, is essential in mitochondrial ribosomal biogenesis as mitochondrial translation is abolished in conditional Nsun4 mouse knockouts. Deep sequencing of bisulfite-treated RNA shows that NSUN4 methylates cytosine 911 in 12S rRNA (m5C911) of the SSU. Surprisingly, NSUN4 does not need MTERF4 to generate this modification. Instead, the NSUN4/MTERF4 complex is required to assemble the SSU and LSU to form a monosome. NSUN4 is thus a dual function protein, which on the one hand is needed for 12S rRNA methylation and, on the other hand interacts with MTERF4 to facilitate monosome assembly. The presented data suggest that NSUN4 has a key role in controlling a final step in ribosome biogenesis to ensure that only the mature SSU and LSU are assembled.     

NSUN2 modified by SUMO-2/3 promotes gastric cancer progression and regulates mRNA m5C methylation

The 5-methylcytosine (m5C) RNA methyltransferase NSUN2 is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and metastasis formation and is upregulated in multiple cancers. However, the biological significance of NSUN2 in gastric cancer (GC) and the modification of NSUN2 itself have not been fully investigated. Here, we analyzed the expression level of NSUN2 in tissue microarrays containing 403 GC tissues by immunohistochemistry. NSUN2 was upregulated in GC, and that it was a predictor of poor prognosis. NSUN2 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells in vitro. We also demonstrated that small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-2/3 interacts directly with NSUN2 by stabilizing it and mediating its nuclear transport. This facilitates the carcinogenic activity of NSUN2. Furthermore, m5C bisulfite sequencing (Bis-seq) in NSUN2-deficient GC cells showed that m5C-methylated genes are involved in multiple cancer-related signaling pathways. PIK3R1 and PCYT1A may be the target genes that participate in GC progression. Our findings revealed a novel mechanism by which NSUN2 functions in GC progression. This may provide new treatment options for GC patients.Subject terms: Gastric cancer, Post-translational modifications     

CIGAR‐seq,a CRISPR/Cas‐based method for unbiased screening of novel mRNA modification regulators

Cellular RNA is decorated with over 170 types of chemical modifications. Many modifications in mRNA, including m⁶A and m⁵C, have been associated with critical cellular functions under physiological and/or pathological conditions. To understand the biological functions of these modifications, it is vital to identify the regulators that modulate the modification rate. However, a high‐throughput method for unbiased screening of these regulators is so far lacking. Here, we report such a method combining pooled CRISPR screen and reporters with RNA modification readout, termed CRISPR integrated gRNA and reporter sequencing (CIGAR‐seq). Using CIGAR‐seq, we discovered NSUN6 as a novel mRNA m⁵C methyltransferase. Subsequent mRNA bisulfite sequencing in HAP1 cells without or with NSUN6 and/or NSUN2 knockout showed that NSUN6 and NSUN2 worked on non‐overlapping subsets of mRNA m⁵C sites and together contributed to almost all the m⁵C modification in mRNA. Finally, using m¹A as an example, we demonstrated that CIGAR‐seq can be easily adapted for identifying regulators of other mRNA modification.     

干扰NSUN2通过调控细胞周期蛋白表达抑制黑素瘤细胞增殖

为探讨太阳结构域家族蛋白酶2(NOP2/Sun RNA methyltransferase 2, Nsun2)RNA甲基化酶在黑素瘤细胞中的生物学功能,本研究以小鼠黑素瘤B16细胞为对象,构建靶向干扰Nsun2基因的shRNA慢病毒干扰载体,包装病毒后感染B16细胞。与对照组相比,干扰组细胞中Nsun2的敲低效率达到80%。EdU染色结果表明,干扰Nsun2显著抑制B16细胞DNA合成能力。转录物组测序技术系统分析干扰组与对照组细胞基因表达水平,共筛选获得1 062个差异表达基因(DEGs),其中678个表达上调,384个表达下调。DEGs主要富集在染色体、着丝粒区、蛋白质结合等GO条目。KEGG分析表明,DEGs显著富集在细胞周期、DNA复制、细胞衰老等通路。荧光定量PCR和转录物组测序结果均发现,Cdk2、Ccna2、Cdc25b等促进细胞分裂的相关基因显著下调,而Gadd45g和Gadd45a等阻滞细胞增殖的基因显著上调。本研究表明,NSUN2通过调控细胞周期和DNA复制等生物学过程,影响黑素瘤细胞增殖,为黑素瘤发生和发展的分子机制研究提供参考。     

tRNA methyltransferases during embryogenesis in Musca domestica

Activity and diversity of the tRNA methyltransferases were examined during embryogenesis of the housefly, Musca domestica. A rapid rise in the activity of the tRNA methyltransferases was observed during the first 3 hr of embryogenesis. Activity increased slowly until the tenth hour of embryogenesis and then declined until hatching at 12 hr. The greatest diversity of tRNA methyltransferases, as indicated by extent of methylation, existed at 6 hr of embryogenesis; the least diversity was observed in 1-hr embryos, while 12-hr embryos showed intermediate levels. Inhibition of embryonic tRNA methyltransferases at high concentrations of enzyme was observed in all extracts examined.     

NSUN6 is a human RNA methyltransferase that catalyzes formation of m5C72 in specific tRNAs

Many cellular RNAs require modification of specific residues for their biogenesis, structure, and function. 5-methylcytosine (m⁵C) is a common chemical modification in DNA and RNA but in contrast to the DNA modifying enzymes, only little is known about the methyltransferases that establish m⁵C modifications in RNA. The putative RNA methyltransferase NSUN6 belongs to the family of Nol1/Nop2/SUN domain (NSUN) proteins, but so far its cellular function has remained unknown. To reveal the target spectrum of human NSUN6, we applied UV crosslinking and analysis of cDNA (CRAC) as well as chemical crosslinking with 5-azacytidine. We found that human NSUN6 is associated with tRNAs and acts as a tRNA methyltransferase. Furthermore, we uncovered tRNA^Cys and tRNA^Thr as RNA substrates of NSUN6 and identified the cytosine C72 at the 3′ end of the tRNA acceptor stem as the target nucleoside. Interestingly, target recognition in vitro depends on the presence of the 3′-CCA tail. Together with the finding that NSUN6 localizes to the cytoplasm and largely colocalizes with marker proteins for the Golgi apparatus and pericentriolar matrix, our data suggest that NSUN6 modifies tRNAs in a late step in their biogenesis.     

Dnmt2 is the most evolutionary conserved and enigmatic cytosine DNA methyltransferase in eukaryotes

Dnmt2 is the most strongly conserved cytosine DNA methyltransferase in eukaryotes. It has been found in all organisms possessing methyltransferases of the Dnmt1 and Dnmt3 families, whereas in many others Dnmt2 is the sole cytosine DNA methyltransferase. The Dnmt2 molecule contains all conserved motifs of cytosine DNA methyltransferases. It forms 3D complexes with DNA very similar to those of bacterial DNA methyltransferases and performs cytosine methylation by a catalytic mechanism common to all cytosine DNA methyltransferases. Catalytic activity of the purified Dnmt2 with DNA substrates is very low and could hardly be detected in direct biochemical assays. Dnmt2 is the sole cytosine DNA methyltransferase in Drosophila and other dipteran insects. Its overexpression as a transgene leads to DNA hypermethylation in all sequence contexts and to an extended life span. On the contrary, a null-mutation of the Dnmt2 gene leads to a diminished life span, though no evident anomalies in development are observed. Dnmt2 is also the sole cytosine DNA methyltransferase in several protists. Similar to Drosophila these protists have a very low level of DNA methylation. Some limited genome compartments, such as transposable sequences, are probably the methylation targets in these organisms. Dnmt2 does not participate in genome methylation in mammals, but seems to be an RNA methyltransferase modifying the 38th cytosine residue in anticodon loop of certain tRNAs. This modification enhances stability of tRNAs, especially in stressful conditions. Dnmt2 is the only enzyme known to perform RNA methylation by a catalytic mechanism characteristic of DNA methyltransferases. The Dnmt2 activity has been shown in mice to be necessary for paramutation establishment, though the precise mechanisms of its participation in this form of epigenetic heredity are unknown. It seems likely, that either of the two Dnmt2 activities could become a predominant one during the evolution of different species. The high level of the Dnmt2 evolutionary conservation proves its activity to have a significant adaptive value in natural environment.     

Identification of novel methyltransferases,Bmt5 and Bmt6, responsible for the m3U methylations of 25S rRNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

RNA contains various chemical modifications that expand its otherwise limited repertoire to mediate complex processes like translation and gene regulation. 25S rRNA of the large subunit of ribosome contains eight base methylations. Except for the methylation of uridine residues, methyltransferases for all other known base methylations have been recently identified. Here we report the identification of BMT5 (YIL096C) and BMT6 (YLR063W), two previously uncharacterized genes, to be responsible for m³U2634 and m³U2843 methylation of the 25S rRNA, respectively. These genes were identified by RP-HPLC screening of all deletion mutants of putative RNA methyltransferases and were confirmed by gene complementation and phenotypic characterization. Both proteins belong to Rossmann-fold–like methyltransferases and the point mutations in the S-adenosyl-l-methionine binding pocket abolish the methylation reaction. Bmt5 localizes in the nucleolus, whereas Bmt6 is localized predominantly in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, we showed that 25S rRNA of yeast does not contain any m⁵U residues as previously predicted. With Bmt5 and Bmt6, all base methyltransferases of the 25S rRNA have been identified. This will facilitate the analyses of the significance of these modifications in ribosome function and cellular physiology.     

Plant DNA methyltransferase genes: Multiplicity,expression, methylation patterns

Expression and methylation patterns of genes encoding DNA methyltransferases and their functionally related proteins were studied in organs of Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Genes coding for the major maintenance-type DNA methyltransferases, MET1 and CMT3, and the major de novo-type DNA methyltransferase, DRM2, are actively expressed in all organs. Similar constitutively active expression was observed for genes encoding their functionally related proteins, a histone H3K9 methyltransferase KYP and a catalytically non-active protein DRM3. Expression of the MET1 and CMT3 genes is significantly lower in developing endosperm compared with embryo. Vice versa, expression of the MET2a, MET2b, MET3, and CMT2 genes in endosperm is much more active compared with embryo. A special maintenance DNA methylation system seems to operate in endosperm. The DNMT2 and N6AMT genes encoding putative methyltransferases are constitutively expressed at low levels. CMT1 and DRM1 genes are expressed rather weakly in all investigated organs. Most of the studied genes have methylation patterns conforming to the “body-methylated gene” prototype. A peculiar feature of the MET family genes is methylation at all three possible site types (CG, CHG, and CHH). The most weakly expressed among genes of their respective families, CMT1 and DRM1, are practically unmethylated. The MET3 and N6AMT genes have unusual methylation patterns, promoter region, and most of the gene body devoid of any methylation, and the 3'-end proximal part of the gene body is highly methylated.     

tRNA Modifying Enzymes,NSUN2 and METTL1, Determine Sensitivity to 5-Fluorouracil in HeLa Cells

Nonessential tRNA modifications by methyltransferases are evolutionarily conserved and have been reported to stabilize mature tRNA molecules and prevent rapid tRNA decay (RTD). The tRNA modifying enzymes, NSUN2 and METTL1, are mammalian orthologs of yeast Trm4 and Trm8, which are required for protecting tRNA against RTD. A simultaneous overexpression of NSUN2 and METTL1 is widely observed among human cancers suggesting that targeting of both proteins provides a novel powerful strategy for cancer chemotherapy. Here, we show that combined knockdown of NSUN2 and METTL1 in HeLa cells drastically potentiate sensitivity of cells to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) whereas heat stress of cells revealed no effects. Since NSUN2 and METTL1 are phosphorylated by Aurora-B and Akt, respectively, and their tRNA modifying activities are suppressed by phosphorylation, overexpression of constitutively dephosphorylated forms of both methyltransferases is able to suppress 5-FU sensitivity. Thus, NSUN2 and METTL1 are implicated in 5-FU sensitivity in HeLa cells. Interfering with methylation of tRNAs might provide a promising rationale to improve 5-FU chemotherapy of cancer.     

RNAi, DRD1, and histone methylation actively target developmentally important non-CG DNA methylation in arabidopsis

Cytosine DNA methylation protects eukaryotic genomes by silencing transposons and harmful DNAs, but also regulates gene expression during normal development. Loss of CG methylation in the Arabidopsis thaliana met1 and ddm1 mutants causes varied and stochastic developmental defects that are often inherited independently of the original met1 or ddm1 mutation. Loss of non-CG methylation in plants with combined mutations in the DRM and CMT3 genes also causes a suite of developmental defects. We show here that the pleiotropic developmental defects of drm1 drm2 cmt3 triple mutant plants are fully recessive, and unlike phenotypes caused by met1 and ddm1, are not inherited independently of the drm and cmt3 mutations. Developmental phenotypes are also reversed when drm1 drm2 cmt3 plants are transformed with DRM2 or CMT3, implying that non-CG DNA methylation is efficiently re-established by sequence-specific signals. We provide evidence that these signals include RNA silencing though the 24-nucleotide short interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway as well as histone H3K9 methylation, both of which converge on the putative chromatin-remodeling protein DRD1. These signals act in at least three partially intersecting pathways that control the locus-specific patterning of non-CG methylation by the DRM2 and CMT3 methyltransferases. Our results suggest that non-CG DNA methylation that is inherited via a network of persistent targeting signals has been co-opted to regulate developmentally important genes.     

Expression and prognostic characteristics of m5C regulators in low-grade glioma

Glioma is the most common intracranial malignant tumour. A clear diagnosis and molecular targeted therapy are of great significance for improving the survival time and quality of life of patients with low-grade glioma. 5-methylcytosine methylation is one of the ways of RNA modification, but there are limited studies on the role of m⁵C methylation of low-grade glioma. Single-nucleotide variant, RNA expression matrix and corresponding clinical data of low-grade glioma came from public database. The single-nucleotide variant and expression of m⁵C regulators were estimated. A prognostic model based on m⁵C regulators was constructed by Cox regression. Potential functions of these molecules were assessed by gene set enrichment analysis. DNMT3A mutation was the most frequent among the m⁵C regulators in low-grade glioma. NSUN3, TET2, TRDMT1, ALYREF, DNMT3B, DNMT1, NOP2 and NSUN2 were up-regulated. One prognostic model was constructed which had a strong predictive power for the overall survival of low-grade glioma. We studied the expression and prognostic characteristics of m⁵C regulators in low-grade glioma, supplied biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis and provided the foundation for the study of the pathogenesis of low-grade glioma.     

Identification of the Active Sites in the Methyltransferases of a Transcribing dsRNA Virus

Many double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) viruses are capable of transcribing and capping RNA within a stable icosahedral viral capsid. The turret of turreted dsRNA viruses belonging to the family Reoviridae is formed by five copies of the turret protein, which contains domains with both 7-N-methyltransferase and 2′-O-methyltransferase activities, and serves to catalyze the methylation reactions during RNA capping. Cypovirus of the family Reoviridae provides a good model system for studying the methylation reactions in dsRNA viruses. Here, we present the structure of a transcribing cypovirus to a resolution of ~ 3.8 Å by cryo-electron microscopy. The binding sites for both S-adenosyl-l-methionine and RNA in the two methyltransferases of the turret were identified. Structural analysis of the turret in complex with RNA revealed a pathway through which the RNA molecule reaches the active sites of the two methyltransferases before it is released into the cytoplasm. The pathway shows that RNA capping reactions occur in the active sites of different turret protein monomers, suggesting that RNA capping requires concerted efforts by at least three turret protein monomers. Thus, the turret structure provides novel insights into the precise mechanisms of RNA methylation.