Mechanistic insights into recognition of symmetric methylated cytosines in CpG and non-CpG DNA by UHRF1 SRA

Non-CpG DNA methylation (non-mCpG) is enriched in the genome of brain neurons and germline cells in mammals. Accumulation of non-mCpG during postnatal brain development correlates with gene regulation and inactivation of distal regulatory elements. Recently, UHRF1 has been found to contribute to de novo non-CpG methylation, however, whether UHRF1 could recognize non-mCpG is unknown. Here, we have demonstrated through calorimetric measurements that the UHRF1 SRA can recognize mCpH and fully-mCpHpG, types of non-mCpG. Our ITC binding studies endorse the preferential reading of hemi-mCpG by UHRF1 SRA and also show 6-fold weaker binding for fully-mCpG than hemi-mCpG. Despite presence of symmetrical (5-methyl cytosine) 5mCs, stoichiometry of 1:1 for UHRF1 SRA binding to fully-mCpG indicates that UHRF1 SRA may not form a stable complex with fully-mCpG DNA. Contrarily, UHRF1 SRA recognizes fully-mCpHpG with a stoichiometry of 2:1 protein to DNA duplex with binding affinity higher than fully-mCpG. Our crystal structure of UHRF1 SRA bound to fully-mCpHpG DNA reveals dual flip-out mechanism of 5mC recognition. Metadynamics studies corroborates with ITC data that UHRF1 SRA could not form a stable complex with fully-mCpG DNA. Altogether, this study demonstrates that UHRF1 SRA recognizes non-mCpG DNA and exhibits contrasting mechanisms for hemi-mCpG and fully-mCpHpG DNA recognition. •Recognition of non-CpG methylation by UHRF1 SRA is undetermined.•UHRF1 SRA can recognize both CpG and non-CpG DNA methylation.•Single base spacer is required for fully-mCpHpG recognition by UHRF1 SRA.•Binding of two molecules of UHRF1 SRA to fully-mCpG forms an unstable complex.•The study substantiates the role of UHRF1 in de novo non-CpG methylation maintenance.