Dnmt2 in Cardiac Growth: RNA Polymerase II and tRNA Methylation

What is it about?

The article discusses the role of Dnmt2, a methyltransferase, in the regulation of cardiac growth and development. Dnmt2-deficient mice were found to exhibit cardiac hypertrophy, with increased dimensions of the organ due to cardiomyocyte enlargement, but preserved cardiac function. Mechanistically, the study found that Dnmt2 plays a role in regulating the activity of the P-TEFb complex, a critical step for cardiac growth, by modulating the non-coding RNA Rn7sk. The article emphasizes the significance of this finding as it suggests an unexpected role for Dnmt2 in regulating cardiac growth through the modulation of the P-TEFb complex.

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Why is it important?

This research is important because it sheds light on the role of Dnmt2, a methyltransferase previously known for its function in tRNA methylation and epigenetic heredity, in cardiac growth and development. The study reveals that Dnmt2 plays a previously unrecognized role in regulating cardiac growth by modulating the activity of the P-TEFb complex, a critical step for cardiac growth. Key Takeaways: 1. Dnmt2 is part of the RNA processing machinery during cellular stress, and it plays a role in protecting tRNA from endonucleolytic cleavage. 2. The study found that Dnmt2-deficient mice exhibit cardiac hypertrophy, and the increased dimensions of the organ are due to cardiomyocyte enlargement. 3. Activation of the P-TEFb complex, a critical step for cardiac growth, results from increased dissociation of the negatively regulating Rn7sk non-coding RNA component in Dnmt2-deficient cells. 4. Non-coding RNAs, including Rn7sk and B2 RNAs, tightly regulate RNA pol II activation, and Rn7sk methylation is significant