tRNA Methyltransferase 6 Homolog (TRMT6)

TRMT6 is similar to an uncharacterized protein from C. elegans. Although the function of the encoded protein is unknown, it shares weak sequence similarity to a region of S. cerevisiae translation initiation factor subunit Gcd10p.Among all types of RNA, tRNA is unique given that it possesses the largest assortment and abundance of modified nucleosides. The methylation at N(1) of adenosine 58 is a conserved modification, occurring in bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic tRNAs. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the tRNA 1-methyladenosine 58 (m(1)A58) methyltransferase (Mtase) is a two-subunit enzyme encoded by the essential genes TRM6 (GCD10) and TRM61 (GCD14). While the significance of many tRNA modifications is poorly understood, methylation of A58 is known to be critical for maintaining the stability of initiator tRNA(Met) in yeast.