2′O-Ribose Methylation of Ribosomal RNAs: Natural Diversity in Living Organisms, Biological Processes, and Diseases

• Main Authors: Mariam Jaafar, Hermes Paraqindes, Mathieu Gabut, Jean-Jacques Diaz, Virginie Marcel, Sébastien Durand
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
• Series: Cells
• Subjects: 2′-O-methylation; rRNA modification; ribosome; ribosome heterogeneity; RiboMeth-seq
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/8/1948

Recent findings suggest that ribosomes, the translational machineries, can display a distinct composition depending on physio-pathological contexts. Thanks to outstanding technological breakthroughs, many studies have reported that variations of rRNA modifications, and more particularly the most abundant rRNA chemical modification, the rRNA 2′O-ribose methylation (2′Ome), intrinsically occur in many organisms. In the last 5 years, accumulating reports have illustrated that rRNA 2′Ome varies in human cell lines but also in living organisms (yeast, plant, zebrafish, mouse, human) during development and diseases. These rRNA 2′Ome variations occur either within a single cell line, organ, or patient’s sample (i.e., intra-variability) or between at least two biological conditions (i.e., inter-variability). Thus, the ribosomes can tolerate the absence of 2′Ome at some specific positions. These observations question whether variations in rRNA 2′Ome could provide ribosomes with particular translational regulatory activities and functional specializations. Here, we compile recent studies supporting the heterogeneity of ribosome composition at rRNA 2′Ome level and provide an overview of the natural diversity in rRNA 2′Ome that has been reported up to now throughout the kingdom of life. Moreover, we discuss the little evidence that suggests that variations of rRNA 2′Ome can effectively impact the ribosome activity and contribute to the etiology of some human diseases.