The RNA methyltransferase METTL8 installs m(3)C(32) in mitochondrial tRNAs(Thr/Ser(UCN)) to optimise tRNA structure and mitochondrial translation

Modified nucleotides in tRNAs are important determinants of folding, structure and function. Here we identify METTL8 as a mitochondrial matrix protein and active RNA methyltransferase responsible for installing m(3)C(32) in the human mitochondrial (mt-)tRNA(Thr) and mt-tRNA(Ser(UCN)). METTL8 crosslinks to the anticodon stem loop (ASL) of many mt-tRNAs in cells, raising the question of how methylation target specificity is achieved. Dissection of mt-tRNA recognition elements revealed U(34)G(35) and t(6)A(37)/(ms(2))i(6)A(37), present concomitantly only in the ASLs of the two substrate mt-tRNAs, as key determinants for METTL8-mediated methylation of C(32). Several lines of evidence demonstrate the influence of U(34), G(35), and the m(3)C(32) and t(6)A(37)/(ms(2))i(6)A(37) modifications in mt-tRNA(Thr/Ser(UCN)) on the structure of these mt-tRNAs. Although mt-tRNA(Thr/Ser(UCN)) lacking METTL8-mediated m(3)C(32) are efficiently aminoacylated and associate with mitochondrial ribosomes, mitochondrial translation is mildly impaired by lack of METTL8. Together these results define the cellular targets of METTL8 and shed new light on the role of m(3)C(32) within mt-tRNAs.