Recognition of N6-methyladenosine by the YTHDC1 YTH domain studied by molecular dynamics and NMR spectroscopy: The role of hydration

The YTH domain of YTHDC1 belongs to a class of protein "readers", recognizing the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) chemical modification in mRNA. Static ensemble-averaged structures revealed details of N6-methyl recognition via a conserved aromatic cage. Here, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations along with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) to examine how dynamics and solvent interactions contribute to the m6A recognition and negative selectivity towards unmethylated substrate. The structured water molecules surrounding the bound RNA and the methylated substrates ability to exclude bulk water molecules contribute to the YTH domains preference for m6A. Intrusions of bulk water deep into the binding pocket disrupt binding of unmethylated adenosine. The YTHDC1s preference for the 5'-Gm6A-3' motif is partially facilitated by a network of water-mediated interactions between the 2-amino group of the guanosine and residues in the m6A binding pocket. The 5'-Im6A-3' (where I is inosine) motif can be recognized too but disruption of the water network lowers affinity. The D479A mutant also disrupts the water network and destabilizes m6A binding. Our interdisciplinary study of YTHDC1 protein/RNA complex reveals an unusual physical mechanism by which solvent interactions contributes towards m6A recognition.