title: Novel m4C modification in type I restriction-modification systems.
abstract: We identify a new subgroup of Type I Restriction-Modification enzymes that modify cytosine in one DNA strand and adenine in the opposite strand for host protection. Recognition specificity has been determined for ten systems using SMRT sequencing and each recognizes a novel DNA sequence motif. Previously characterized Type I systems use two identical copies of a single methyltransferase (MTase) subunit, with one bound at each half site of the specificity (S) subunit to form the MTase. The new m4C-producing Type I systems we describe have two separate yet highly similar MTase subunits that form a heterodimeric M1M2S MTase. The MTase subunits from these systems group into two families, one of which has NPPF in the highly conserved catalytic motif IV and modifies adenine to m6A, and one having an NPPY catalytic motif IV and modifying cytosine to m4C. The high degree of similarity among their cytosine-recognizing components (MTase and S) suggest they have recently evolved, most likely from the far more common m6A Type I systems. Type I enzymes that modify cytosine exclusively were formed by replacing the adenine target recognition domain (TRD) with a cytosine-recognizing TRD. These are the first examples of m4C modification in Type I RM systems.
authors: New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA 01938, USA morgan@neb.com.
authors: Richard D
authors: RD
authors: Morgan
authors: New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA 01938, USA.
authors: Yvette A
authors: YA
authors: Luyten
authors: New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA 01938, USA.
authors: Samuel A
authors: SA
authors: Johnson
authors: New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA 01938, USA.
authors: Emily M
authors: EM
authors: Clough
authors: Pacific Biosciences, 1380 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
authors: Tyson A
authors: TA
authors: Clark
authors: New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA 01938, USA.
authors: Richard J
authors: RJ
authors: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002384:Catalysis; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods; D003596:Cytosine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015280:DNA Restriction-Modification Enzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008745:Methylation; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D059372:Nucleotide Motifs; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D015280:DNA Restriction-Modification Enzymes; D021122:Protein Subunits; D003596:Cytosine; D004247:DNA; D008780:Methyltransferases; D000225:Adenine