Hypermethylation of the cap structure of both yeast snRNAs and snoRNAs requires a conserved methyltransferase that is localized to the nucleolus

Mol Cell. 2002 Apr;9(4):891-901. doi: 10.1016/s1097-2765(02)00484-7.

Abstract

The m(7)G caps of most spliceosomal snRNAs and certain snoRNAs are converted posttranscriptionally to 2,2,7-trimethylguanosine (m(3)G) cap structures. Here, we show that yeast Tgs1p, an evolutionarily conserved protein carrying a signature of S-AdoMet methyltransferase, is essential for hypermethylation of the m(7)G caps of both snRNAs and snoRNAs. Deletion of the yeast TGS1 gene abolishes the conversion of the m(7)G to m(3)G caps and produces a cold-sensitive splicing defect that correlates with the retention of U1 snRNA in the nucleolus. Consistently, Tgs1p is also localized in the nucleolus. Our results suggest a trafficking pathway in which yeast snRNAs and snoRNAs cycle through the nucleolus to undergo m(7)G cap hypermethylation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Autoantigens / physiology
  • Cell Nucleolus / enzymology*
  • Cold Temperature
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Guanosine / analogs & derivatives
  • Guanosine / metabolism*
  • Hydro-Lyases*
  • Methylation
  • Methyltransferases / genetics
  • Methyltransferases / physiology*
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA Cap Analogs / biosynthesis*
  • RNA Cap Analogs / physiology
  • RNA Caps / metabolism*
  • RNA Splicing / genetics
  • RNA, Fungal / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Nuclear / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / metabolism*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear / physiology
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nucleolar*
  • S-Adenosylmethionine / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / physiology*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Autoantigens
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • NOP58 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RNA Cap Analogs
  • RNA Caps
  • RNA, Fungal
  • RNA, Small Nuclear
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nucleolar
  • SMB protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • U1 small nuclear RNA
  • Guanosine
  • N(2),N(2),7-trimethylguanosine
  • 7-methylguanosine triphosphate
  • S-Adenosylmethionine
  • Methyltransferases
  • trimethylguanosine synthase
  • Hydro-Lyases
  • CBF5 protein, S cerevisiae