CMTR1-Catalyzed 2'-O-Ribose Methylation Controls Neuronal Development by Regulating Camk2α Expression Independent of RIG-I Signaling.

Yen-Lurk Lee, Fan-Che Kung, Chia-Hsuan Lin, Yi-Shuian Huang

Cell reports 2020 Oct 20

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Eukaryotic mRNAs are 5' end capped with a 7-methylguanosine, which is important for processing and translation of mRNAs. Cap methyltransferase 1 (CMTR1) catalyzes 2'-O-ribose methylation of the first transcribed nucleotide (N1 2'-O-Me) to mask mRNAs from innate immune surveillance by retinoic-acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I). Nevertheless, whether this modification regulates gene expression for neuronal functions remains unexplored. Here, we find that knockdown of CMTR1 impairs dendrite development independent of secretory cytokines and RIG-I signaling. Using transcriptomic analyses, we identify altered gene expression related to dendrite morphogenesis instead of RIG-I-activated interferon signaling, such as decreased calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 2α (Camk2α). In line with these molecular changes, dendritic complexity in CMTR1-insufficient neurons is rescued by ectopic expression of CaMK2α but not by inactivation of RIG-I signaling. We further generate brain-specific CMTR1-knockout mice to validate these findings in vivo. Our study reveals the indispensable role of CMTR1-catalyzed N1 2'-O-Me in gene regulation for brain development. Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Citation

Yen-Lurk Lee, Fan-Che Kung, Chia-Hsuan Lin, Yi-Shuian Huang. CMTR1-Catalyzed 2'-O-Ribose Methylation Controls Neuronal Development by Regulating Camk2α Expression Independent of RIG-I Signaling. Cell reports. 2020 Oct 20;33(3):108269