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Updated: May 2, 2026

DNAzyme-dependent Analysis of rRNA 2’-O-Methylation
Published on: September 16, 2019
Crystal structure of the RNA demethylase ALKBH5 from zebrafish
Weizhong Chen1, Liang Zhang2, Guanqun Zheng2
1Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China; Department of Chemistry and Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, 929 E. 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Coordination Chemistry Institute and the State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
Abstract:
ALKBH5, a member of AlkB family proteins, has been reported as a mammalian N(6)-methyladenosine (m(6)A) RNA demethylase. Here we report the crystal structure of zebrafish ALKBH5 (fALKBH5) with the resolution of 1.65Å. Structural superimposition shows that fALKBH5 is comprised of a conserved jelly-roll motif. However, it possesses a loop that interferes potential binding of a duplex nucleic acid substrate, suggesting an important role in substrate selection. In addition, several active site residues are different between the two known m(6)A RNA demethylases, ALKBH5 and FTO, which may result in their slightly different pathways of m(6)A demethylation.
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