Work

RNA methylation by Dnmt2 protects transfer RNAs against stress-induced cleavage

Year: 2010

Type: preprint

Abstract: Dnmt2 proteins are the most conserved members of the DNA methyltransferase enzyme family, but their substrate specificity and biological functions have been a subject of controversy. We show here that, in addition to tRNA(Asp-GTC), tRNA(Val-AAC) and tRNA(Gly-GCC) are also methylated by Dnmt2. Drosophila Dnmt2 mutants showed reduced viability under stress conditions, and Dnmt2 relocalized to stress granules following heat shock. Strikingly, stress-induced cleavage of tRNAs was Dnmt2-dependent, and Dnmt2-mediated methylation protected tRNAs against ribonuclease cleavage. These results uncover a novel biological function of Dnmt2-mediated tRNA methylation, and suggest a role for Dnmt2 enzymes during the biogenesis of tRNA-derived small RNAs.

Source: Genes & Development

DOI: 10.1101/gad.586710

Authors: Matthias Schaefer, Tim Pollex, Katharina Hanna, Francesca Tuorto, Madeleine Meusburger, Mark Helm, Frank Lyko

Institutions: German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, Heidelberg University, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Language: English

Topic: RNA modifications and cancer

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, RIKEN

Award: G4582146084

OpenAlex ID: W2067022150

Cites: 31

Cited by: 785

Related to: 10