InterPro domain: IPR032852

AlkB is a dioxygenase that repairs alkylation damage to DNA and RNA [ 1 ]. AlkB homologues (ABHs) are found in all multicellular organisms, as well as in many bacteria and fungi, and some viruses [ 2 ]. Nine mammalian AlkB homologues exist (ALKBH1-8, FTO), but only a subset functions as DNA/RNA repair enzymes [ 3 ].

This entry represents AlkB homologue 2 (ALKBH2, ABH2), which has a strong preference for double-stranded DNA [ 4 ]. Together with alkyl-N-adenine-DNA glycosylase, comprises the cellular defence against 1,N(6)-ethenoadenine lesions [ 4 ]. ABH2 also has an important role in maintaining ribosomal DNA gene integrity and transcription [ 5 ]. This entry also includes uncharacterised bacterial homologues.

1. Human and bacterial oxidative demethylases repair alkylation damage in both RNA and DNA. Nature 421, 859-63
2. Viral AlkB proteins repair RNA damage by oxidative demethylation. Nucleic Acids Res. 36, 5451-61
3. The AlkB Family of Fe(II)/α-Ketoglutarate-dependent Dioxygenases: Repairing Nucleic Acid Alkylation Damage and Beyond. J. Biol. Chem. 290, 20734-42
4. AlkB homologue 2-mediated repair of ethenoadenine lesions in mammalian DNA. Cancer Res. 68, 4142-9
5. ABH2 couples regulation of ribosomal DNA transcription with DNA alkylation repair. Cell Rep 4, 817-29