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Updated: Apr 12, 2026

Application of AlDeSense to Stratify Ovarian Cancer Cells Based on Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1A1 Activity
Published on: March 31, 2023
Non-homologous functions of the AlkB homologs
Rune Ougland1, Torbjørn Rognes2, Arne Klungland3
1Clinic for Diagnostics and Intervention and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0027 Oslo, Norway Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, 0310 Oslo, Norway.
Abstract:
The DNA repair enzyme AlkB was identified in E. coli more than three decades ago. Since then, nine mammalian homologs, all members of the superfamily of alpha-ketoglutarate and Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenases, have been identified (designated ALKBH1-8 and FTO). While E. coli AlkB serves as a DNA repair enzyme, only two mammalian homologs have been confirmed to repair DNA in vivo. The other mammalian homologs have remarkably diverse substrate specificities and biological functions. Substrates recognized by the different AlkB homologs comprise erroneous methyl- and etheno adducts in DNA, unique wobble uridine modifications in certain tRNAs, methylated adenines in mRNA, and methylated lysines on proteins. The phenotypes of organisms lacking or overexpressing individual AlkB homologs include obesity, severe sensitivity to inflammation, infertility, growth retardation, and multiple malformations. Here we review the present knowledge of the mammalian AlkB homologs and their implications for human disease and development.
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