ALKBH5
Description
The ALKBH5 (alkB homolog 5, RNA demethylase) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 17.
ALKBH5 is a dioxygenase that removes methyl groups from RNA through oxidative demethylation. Specifically, it targets N(6)-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA, the most common internal modification in messenger RNA (mRNA) of higher eukaryotes. This enzyme can also demethylate N(6)-methyladenosine in single-stranded DNA under laboratory conditions. ALKBH5 requires molecular oxygen, alpha-ketoglutarate, and iron to function. Demethylation of m6A mRNA influences mRNA processing and export. This enzyme is essential for the late meiotic and haploid stages of spermatogenesis, where it mediates m6A demethylation in spermatocytes and round spermatids. Correct splicing and the production of longer 3'-UTR mRNAs in male germ cells depend on m6A demethylation of specific transcripts.
ALKBH5 is also known as ABH5, OFOXD, OFOXD1.
