Molecular basis for human mitochondrial tRNA m3C modification by alternatively spliced METTL8

METTL8 has recently been identified as the methyltransferase catalyzing 3-methylcytidine biogenesis at position 32 (m(3)C32) of mitochondrial tRNAs. METTL8 also potentially participates in mRNA methylation and R-loop biogenesis. How METTL8 plays multiple roles in distinct cell compartments and catalyzes mitochondrial tRNA m(3)C formation remain unclear. Here, we discovered that alternative mRNA splicing generated several isoforms of METTL8. One isoform (METTL8-Iso1) was targeted to mitochondria via an N-terminal pre-sequence, while another one (METTL8-Iso4) mainly localized to the nucleolus. METTL8-Iso1-mediated m(3)C32 modification of human mitochondrial tRNA(Thr) (hmtRNA(Thr)) was not reliant on t(6)A modification at A37 (t(6)A37), while that of hmtRNA(Ser)(UCN) critically depended on i(6)A modification at A37 (i(6)A37). We clarified the hmtRNA(Thr) substrate recognition mechanism, which was obviously different from that of hmtRNA(Ser)(UCN), in terms of requiring a G35 determinant. Moreover, SARS2 (mitochondrial seryl-tRNA synthetase) interacted with METTL8-Iso1 in an RNA-independent manner and modestly accelerated m(3)C modification activity. We further elucidated how nonsubstrate tRNAs in human mitochondria were efficiently discriminated by METTL8-Iso1. In summary, our results established the expression pattern of METTL8, clarified the molecular basis for m(3)C32 modification by METTL8-Iso1 and provided the rationale for the involvement of METTL8 in tRNA modification, mRNA methylation or R-loop biogenesis.

Automated summary

The study identified different isoforms of METTL8 that play various roles in different cell compartments. The isoforms have distinct localization and show different mechanisms in the modification of mitochondrial tRNA. The interaction between SARS2 and METTL8-Iso1 was found to enhance the modification activity.