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Abstract:
The YTH domain of YTHDF3 belongs to a class of protein "readers" recognizing the N6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) modification in mRNA. Although static crystal structure reveals m(6)A recognition by a conserved aromatic cage, the dynamic process in recognition and importance of aromatic cage residues are not completely clear. Here, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are performed to explore the issues and negative selectivity of YTHDF3 toward unmethylated substrate. Our results reveal that there exist conformation selectivity and induced-fit in YTHDF3 binding with m(6)A-modified RNA, where recognition loop and loop6 play important roles in the specific recognition. m(6)A modification enhances the stability of YTHDF3 in complex with RNA. The methyl group of m(6)A, like a warhead, enters into the aromatic cage of YTHDF3, where Trp492 anchors the methyl group and constraints m(6)A, making m(6)A further stabilized by pi-pi stacking interactions from Trp438 and Trp497. In addition, the methylation enhances the hydrophobicity of adenosine, facilitating water molecules excluded out of the aromatic cage, which is another reason for the specific recognition and stronger intermolecular interaction. Finally, the comparative analyses of hydrogen bonds and binding free energy between the methylated and unmethylated complexes reveal the physical basis for the preferred recognition of m(6)A-modified RNA by YTHDF3. This study sheds light on the mechanism by which YTHDF3 specifically recognizes m(6)A-modified RNA and can provide important information for structure-based drug design.
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PROTEINS-STRUCTURE FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS
ISSN: 0887-3585
Year: 2022
Issue: 11
Volume: 90
Page: 1965-1972
2 . 9
JCR@2022
2 . 9 0 0
JCR@2022
ESI Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY;
ESI HC Threshold:43
JCR Journal Grade:3
CAS Journal Grade:4
Cited Count:
WoS CC Cited Count: 4
SCOPUS Cited Count: 5
ESI Highly Cited Papers on the List: 0 Unfold All
WanFang Cited Count:
Chinese Cited Count:
30 Days PV: 8
Affiliated Colleges: