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Antibody-Free Assay for RNA Methyltransferase Activity Analysis
Published on: July 9, 2019
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ALKBH7-mediated demethylation regulates mitochondrial polycistronic RNA processing
Li-Sheng Zhang1,2, Qing-Ping Xiong3, Sonia Peña Perez4,5
1Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Nature Cell Biology
|July 13, 2021
Summary
Human ALKBH7 is identified as a mitochondrial RNA demethylase. It regulates mitochondrial RNA processing and activity by removing methylations from specific transfer RNAs.
Area of Science:
- Mitochondrial biology
- RNA modification
- Gene expression
Background:
- The AlkB family mediates nucleic acid demethylation.
- ALKBH7, a mitochondrial protein, affects metabolism but its function is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function and mechanism of human ALKBH7.
- To identify RNA modifications and demethylases in mitochondria.
Main Methods:
- Developed a method for simultaneous detection of multiple RNA methylation sites.
- Investigated ALKBH7's role in mitochondrial RNA processing and activity.
Main Results:
- Human ALKBH7 demethylates N2,N2-dimethylguanosine (m22G) and N1-methyladenosine (m1A) in mitochondrial pre-tRNAs.
- ALKBH7 regulates polycistronic mitochondrial RNA processing and tRNA levels.
- ALKBH7 depletion reduces mitochondrial activity and protein translation.
Conclusions:
- ALKBH7 is a mitochondrial RNA demethylase.
- ALKBH7 controls nascent mitochondrial RNA processing, tRNA stability, and mitochondrial function.
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