Crystal structure of the RNA demethylase ALKBH5 from zebrafish

• DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.02.021
• Publication Date: 2014-02-21T01:47:00Z
• Authors: Weizhong Chen; Liang Zhang; Guanqun Zheng; Ye Fu; Quanjiang Ji; Fange Liu; Hao Chen; Chuan He
• Keywords: AlkB; Demethylase; Demethylation; N6-Methyladenosine

ALKBH5, a member of AlkB family proteins, has been reported as mammalian N 6 ‐methyladenosine (m A) RNA demethylase. Here we report the crystal structure zebrafish ALKBH5 (fALKBH5) with resolution 1.65 Å. Structural superimposition shows that fALKBH5 is comprised conserved jelly‐roll motif. However, it possesses loop interferes potential binding duplex nucleic acid substrate, suggesting an important role in substrate selection. In addition, several active site residues are different between two known m A demethylases, and FTO, which may result their slightly pathways demethylation.