PMID: 18611379 , Related PDB ids: 3CJQ, 3CJR, 3CJS, 3CJT, 3CJU

Authors:

Demirci H, Gregory ST, Dahlberg AE, Jogl G

Title:

Multiple-site trimethylation of ribosomal protein L11 by the PrmA methyltransferase.

Journal:

Structure. 2008 Jul;16(7):1059-66.

Abstract:

Ribosomal protein L11 is a universally conserved component of the large subunit, and plays a significant role during initiation, elongation, and termination of protein synthesis. In Escherichia coli, the lysine methyltransferase PrmA trimethylates the N-terminal alpha-amino group and the epsilon-amino groups of Lys3 and Lys39. Here, we report four PrmA-L11 complex structures in different orientations with respect to the PrmA active site. Two structures capture the L11 N-terminal alpha-amino group in the active site in a trimethylated post-catalytic state and in a dimethylated state with bound S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine. Two other structures show L11 in a catalytic orientation to modify Lys39 and in a noncatalytic orientation. The comparison of complex structures in different orientations with a minimal substrate recognition complex shows that the binding mode remains conserved in all L11 orientations, and that substrate orientation is brought about by the unusual interdomain flexibility of PrmA.