METTL1 Protein, Human (His)

METTL1, the catalytic component of the METTL1-WDR4 methyltransferase complex, is instrumental in mediating the formation of N(7)-methylguanine in various RNA species, including tRNAs, mRNAs, and microRNAs (miRNAs). Specifically, METTL1 catalyzes the addition of N(7)-methylguanine at position 46 (m7G46) within a significant subset of tRNAs containing the 5'-RAGGU-3' motif in the variable loop. This modification, such as m7G46, stabilizes tRNA tertiary structure and shields tRNAs from decay. METTL1 also serves as a methyltransferase for internal N(7)-methylguanine in mRNAs, particularly in response to stress, leading to the relocalization of methylated mRNAs to stress granules and consequent translational suppression. Furthermore, METTL1 methylates specific miRNAs, including let-7, facilitating let-7 miRNA processing by disrupting inhibitory secondary structures within primary miRNA transcripts. Beyond its role in RNA modification, METTL1 emerges as a regulator of embryonic stem cell self-renewal and differentiation.