Regulation of translation by methylation multiplicity of 18S rRNA

N-6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) is a conserved ribonucleoside modification that regulates many facets of RNA metabolism. Using quantitative mass spectrometry, we find that the universally conserved tandem adenosines at the 3' end of 18S rRNA, thought to be constitutively di-methylated (m(2)(6)A), are also mono-methylated (m(6)A). Although present at substoichiometric amounts, m(6)A at these positions increases significantly in response to sulfur starvation in yeast cells and mammalian cell lines. Combining yeast genetics and ribosome profiling, we provide evidence to suggest that m(6)A-bearing ribosomes carry out translation distinctly from m(2)(6)A-bearing ribosomes, featuring a striking specificity for sulfur metabolism genes. Our work thus reveals methylation multiplicity as a mechanism to regulate translation.

Automated summary

N-6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) is a conserved ribonucleoside modification that regulates RNA metabolism. This study found that tandem adenosines at the 3' end of 18S rRNA are also methylated, with significantly increased levels in response to sulfur starvation. Ribosomes with m(6)A were shown to have distinct translation preferences for sulfur metabolism genes.