The 1.85 angstrom structure of vaccinia protein VP39: A bifunctional enzyme that participates in the modification of both mRNA ends

VP39 is a bifunctional vaccinia virus protein that acts as both an mRNA cap-specific RNA 2'-O-methyltransferase and a poly(A) polymerase processivity factor. Here, we report the 1.85 Angstrom crystal structure of a VP39 variant complexed with its AdoMet cofactor. VP39 comprises a single core domain with structural similarity to the catalytic domains of other methyltransferases. Surface features and mutagenesis data suggest two possible RNA-binding sites with novel underlying architecture, one of which forms a cleft spanning the region adjacent to the methyltransferase active site. This report provides a prototypic structure for an RNA methyltransferase, a protein that interacts with the mRNA 5' cap, and an intact poxvirus protein.