Mitochondrially encoded tRNA methionine (MT-TM)

Mitochondrially encoded tRNA methionine (MT-TM, also called trnM or mt-tRNA^Met^) is one of the 22 transfer RNAs encoded by the human mitochondrial genome. Its primary role is to transport methionine during mitochondrial protein synthesis, and it uniquely decodes both the canonical AUG codon and the non-canonical AUA codon as methionine in mitochondria. This tRNA undergoes essential post-transcriptional modifications, including methylation and formylation at the wobble base (C34), critical for accurate and flexible decoding. The sequential modification of C34 by NSUN3 and ABH1 is required for the unique ability of mt-tRNA^Met^ to decode the AUA codon as methionine. Mutations or failures in these modifications can cause mitochondrial translation defects and are associated with mitochondrial disease phenotypes. Unlike classic therapeutic targets such as enzymes or receptors, MT-TM functions as a core RNA component of the mitochondrial translation machinery and is not traditionally targeted by small-molecule drugs[1][2][3][4][5].

Other names

trnMmt-tRNA^Met^tRNA(Met) mitochondrialmitochondrial tRNA^Met^MT-TMmt-tRNAMet