Cited by 14RNA and protein synthesis mechanismsRNA modifications and cancerMitochondrial Function and Pathology

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The mitochondrial methylation potential gates mitoribosome assembly

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Abstract

S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) is the principal methyl donor in cells and is essential for mitochondrial gene expression, influencing RNA modifications, translation, and ribosome biogenesis. Using direct long-read RNA sequencing in mouse tissues and embryonic fibroblasts, we show that processing of the mitochondrial ribosomal gene cluster fails in the absence of mitochondrial SAM, leading to an accumulation of unprocessed precursors. Proteomic analysis of ribosome fractions revealed these precursors associated with processing and assembly factors, indicating stalled biogenesis. Structural analysis by cryo-electron microscopy demonstrated that SAM-dependent methylation is required for peptidyl transferase centre formation during mitoribosome assembly. Our findings identify a critical role for SAM in coordinating mitoribosomal RNA processing and large subunit maturation, linking cellular methylation potential to mitochondrial translation capacity.

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Metadata

Authors
Glasgow, R. I. C., Singh, V., Peña-Pérez, L., Wilhalm, A., Moedas, M. F., Moore, D., Rosenberger, F. A., Li, X., Atanassov, I., Saba, M., Cipullo, M., Rorbach, J., Wedell, A., Freyer, C., Amunts, A., & Wredenberg, A.
Affiliations
  • Karolinska Institutet (SE)
  • Stockholm University (SE)
  • Karolinska University Hospital (SE)
  • Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing (DE)
  • University of Münster (DE)
Corresponding author
  • Freyer, Christoph
  • Amunts, Alexey
  • Wredenberg, Anna
Venue
Nature Communications
Published
2025-06-25
Volume
16
Issue
1
Pages
5388-5388
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4411622405
Cited by
14
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 5
FWCI
4.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Cancerfonden (RS2022-0708, 21 1621 Pj, VR2022-01287, 2-190/2022, KAW2019.0109, NN0082202)
  • Karolinska Institutet (2-190/2022)
  • Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse (KAW 2019.0109, KAW2019)
  • Vetenskapsrådet (2-190/2022, RS2022-0708, 07091, 2023-07091, NN0082202, 2022-01287, 2018-, 21 1621 Pj, KAW2019.0109)
  • Stockholms Universitet
  • Science for Life Laboratory
  • Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (NN0082202)
  • Uppsala Multidisciplinary Center for Advanced Computational Science
  • H2020 European Research Council (805230)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA modifications and cancer
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
Keywords
S-adenosylmethionine, mitochondrial ribosome biogenesis, SAM-dependent methylation, peptidyl transferase center, mitochondrial translation, mitochondrial gene expression, RNA methylation
MeSH terms
Mitochondrial Ribosomes, Animals, Fibroblasts, Methylation, Mitochondria, Ribosomal Proteins, RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional, S-Adenosylmethionine, Cryoelectron Microscopy, Mitochondrial Proteins, Proteomics, Mice

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