Structural highlights
Function
[MMI1_SCHPO] RNA-binding protein that recognizes and binds N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-containing RNAs, a modification present at internal sites of mRNAs and some non-coding RNAs (By similarity). Required for elemination of certain meiosis-specific mRNAs in an early event following transcription. May bind to the cis-acting region (DSR) of the mRNA, activating the nuclear exosome which may lead to the degradation of the transcript from the 3' region (PubMed:16823445).[UniProtKB:Q06390][1]
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Mmi1 is an essential RNA-binding protein in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe that eliminates meiotic transcripts during normal vegetative growth. Mmi1 contains a YTH domain that binds specific RNA sequences, targeting mRNAs for degradation. The YTH domain of Mmi1 uses a noncanonical RNA-binding surface that includes contacts outside the conserved fold. Here, we report that an N-terminal extension that is proximal to the YTH domain enhances RNA binding. Using X-ray crystallography, NMR and biophysical methods, we show that this low-complexity region becomes more ordered upon RNA binding. This enhances the affinity of the interaction of the Mmi1 YTH domain with specific RNAs by reducing the dissociation rate of the Mmi1-RNA complex. We propose that the low-complexity region influences RNA binding indirectly by reducing dynamic motions of the RNA binding groove and stabilizing a conformation of the YTH domain that binds to RNA with high affinity. Taken together, our work reveals how a low-complexity region proximal to a conserved folded domain can adopt an ordered structure to aid nucleic acid binding.
A low-complexity region in the YTH domain protein Mmi1 enhances RNA binding.,Stowell JAW, Wagstaff JL, Hill CH, Yu M, McLaughlin SH, Freund SMV, Passmore LA J Biol Chem. 2018 Apr 25. pii: RA118.002291. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.002291. PMID:29695507[2]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Harigaya Y, Tanaka H, Yamanaka S, Tanaka K, Watanabe Y, Tsutsumi C, Chikashige Y, Hiraoka Y, Yamashita A, Yamamoto M. Selective elimination of messenger RNA prevents an incidence of untimely meiosis. Nature. 2006 Jul 6;442(7098):45-50. PMID:16823445 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature04881
- ↑ Stowell JAW, Wagstaff JL, Hill CH, Yu M, McLaughlin SH, Freund SMV, Passmore LA. A low-complexity region in the YTH domain protein Mmi1 enhances RNA binding. J Biol Chem. 2018 Apr 25. pii: RA118.002291. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.002291. PMID:29695507 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.RA118.002291
