Protein-lysine methyltransferase METTL21C (METTL21C)

Protein-lysine methyltransferase METTL21C (METTL21C) is an enzyme that catalyzes the methylation of lysine residues on certain non-histone substrate proteins, most notably alanine--tRNA ligase 1 (AARS1), by transferring methyl groups from S-adenosyl-L-methionine. It specifically mono-, di-, and trimethylates AARS1 at lysine 943 in vitro and in vivo. METTL21C belongs to the METTL21 family of protein methyltransferases, which functions primarily in muscle tissue. Unlike some related methyltransferases, METTL21C is not known to methylate histones, nor does it show robust evidence for methylation of previously suggested targets such as valosin-containing protein (VCP) or HSPA8 in unbiased biochemical assays. The enzyme is implicated in the regulation of protein synthesis in muscle and is associated with processes relevant to muscle hypertrophy and function. Disease relevance is emerging, especially in muscle biology, but there is currently no established drug targeting this protein, and no known biomarker or specific safety concern.

Other names

Methyltransferase-like protein 21CC13orf39LOC196541Methyltransferase 21CAARS1 lysine methyltransferaseprotein-lysine methyltransferase METTL21C

Lysine methylation of non-histone proteins (e.g., AARS1 at Lys-943) via transfer of methyl groups from S-adenosyl-L-methionine