METTL8
Description
The METTL8 (methyltransferase 8, tRNA N3-cytidine) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 2.
METTL8 is a mitochondrial S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent methyltransferase that catalyzes the addition of a methyl group to the N(3) position of cytidine at residue 32 within the anticodon loop of mitochondrial tRNA(Ser)(UCN) and tRNA(Thr). This modification is essential for regulating mitochondrial translation efficiency and maintaining respiratory chain function. The methylation of tRNA(Ser)(UCN) requires prior modification by TRIT1, which adds N(6)-dimethylallyladenosine(37) (i6A37) at position 37. While METTL8 may also modify mRNAs, the presence and significance of N(3)-methylcytidine on mRNAs remain unclear. Further research is necessary to confirm its role as an N(3)-methylcytidine-specific mRNA methyltransferase in vivo.
METTL8 is also known as TIP.
