title: The yfiC gene of E. coli encodes an adenine-N6 methyltransferase that specifically modifies A37 of tRNA1Val(cmo5UAC).
abstract: Transfer RNA is highly modified. Nucleotide 37 of the anticodon loop is represented by various modified nucleotides. In Escherichia coli, the valine-specific tRNA (cmo(5)UAC) contains a unique modification, N(6)-methyladenosine, at position 37; however, the enzyme responsible for this modification is unknown. Here we demonstrate that the yfiC gene of E. coli encodes an enzyme responsible for the methylation of A37 in tRNA(1)(Val). Inactivation of yfiC gene abolishes m(6)A formation in tRNA(1)(Val), while expression of the yfiC gene from a plasmid restores the modification. Additionally, unmodified tRNA(1)(Val) can be methylated by recombinant YfiC protein in vitro. Although the methylation of m(6)A in tRNA(1)(Val) by YfiC has little influence on the cell growth under standard conditions, the yfiC gene confers a growth advantage under conditions of osmotic and oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Moscow State University, Moscow 119992, Russia.
authors.forename: Anna Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Golovina
authors.forename: Petr V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Sergiev
authors.forename: Andrey V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Golovin
authors.forename: Marina V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Serebryakova
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Demina
authors.forename: Vadim M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Govorun
authors.forename: Olga A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Dontsova
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008745:Methylation; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012366:RNA, Transfer, Val / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012359:tRNA Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D012366:RNA, Transfer, Val; C010223:N-methyladenosine; D008780:Methyltransferases; C542386:YfiC protein, E coli; D012359:tRNA Methyltransferases; D000241:Adenosine