Structural basis of tRNA recognition by the m3C RNA methyltransferase METTL6 in complex with SerRS seryl-tRNA synthetase

Methylation of cytosine 32 in the anticodon loop of tRNAs to 3-methylcytosine (m3C) is crucial for cellular translation fidelity. Misregulation of the RNA methyltransferases setting this modification can cause aggressive cancers and metabolic disturbances. Here, we report the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the human m3C tRNA methyltransferase METTL6 in complex with seryl-tRNA synthetase (SerRS) and their common substrate tRNASer. Through the complex structure, we identify the tRNA-binding domain of METTL6. We show that SerRS acts as the tRNASer substrate selection factor for METTL6. We demonstrate that SerRS augments the methylation activity of METTL6 and that direct contacts between METTL6 and SerRS are necessary for efficient tRNASer methylation. Finally, on the basis of the structure of METTL6 in complex with SerRS and tRNASer, we postulate a universal tRNA-binding mode for m3C RNA methyltransferases, including METTL2 and METTL8, suggesting that these mammalian paralogs use similar ways to engage their respective tRNA substrates and cofactors. The authors use cryo-electron microscopy and biochemistry to reveal how 3-methylcytosine (m3C) methyltransferases bind tRNA. They also find that the human m3C methyltransferase METTL6 forms a tRNA-dependent complex with seryl-tRNA synthetase to methylate target tRNAs efficiently.