ABSTRACT
Mitochondrial translation is a unique relic of the symbiotic origin of the organelle. Alterations of its components cause a number of severe human diseases. Hereby we report a study of mice devoid of Mettl15 mitochondrial 12S rRNA methyltransferase, responsible for the formation of m4C839 residue (human numbering). Homozygous Mettl15-/- mice appeared to be viable in contrast to other mitochondrial rRNA methyltransferase knockouts reported earlier. The phenotype of Mettl15-/- mice is much milder than that of other mutants of mitochondrial translation apparatus. In agreement with the results obtained earlier for cell cultures with an inactivated Mettl15 gene, we observed accumulation of the RbfA factor, normally associated with the precursor of the 28S subunit, in the 55S mitochondrial ribosome fraction of knockout mice. A lack of Mettl15 leads to a lower blood glucose level after physical exercise relative to that of the wild-type mice. Mettl15-/- mice demonstrated suboptimal muscle performance and lower levels of Cox3 protein synthesized by mitoribosomes in the oxidative soleus muscles. Additionally, we detected decreased learning capabilities in the Mettl15-/- knockout mice in the tests with both positive and negative reinforcement. Such properties make Mettl15-/- knockout mice a suitable model for mild mitochondriopathies.
Subject(s)
Mitochondria , Mitochondrial Ribosomes , Animals , Methylation , Methyltransferases/genetics , Methyltransferases/metabolism , Mice , Mitochondria/genetics , Mitochondria/metabolism , Mitochondrial Proteins/metabolism , Mitochondrial Ribosomes/metabolism , RNA Processing, Post-TranscriptionalABSTRACT
N6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) is ubiquitously present in the RNA of living organisms from Escherichia coli to humans. Methyltransferases that catalyze adenosine methylation are drastically different in specificity from modification of single residues in bacterial ribosomal or transfer RNA to modification of thousands of residues spread among eukaryotic mRNA. Interactions that are formed by m(6)A residues range from RNA-RNA tertiary contacts to RNA-protein recognition. Consequences of the modification loss might vary from nearly negligible to complete reprogramming of regulatory pathways and lethality. In this review, we summarized current knowledge on enzymes that introduce m(6)A modification, ways to detect m(6)A presence in RNA and the functional role of this modification everywhere it is present, from bacteria to humans.
