Cited by 160RNA modifications and cancerRNA regulation and diseaseRNA and protein synthesis mechanisms

N6-Methyladenosine: a conformational marker that regulates the substrate specificity of human demethylases FTO and ALKBH5

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Zou, Shui, Toh, Joel D. W., Wong, Kendra H. Q., Gao, Yong-Gui, Hong, Wanjin, Woon, Esther C. Y.·2016·Scientific Reports

Abstract

N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) is currently one of the most intensively studied post-transcriptional modifications in RNA. Due to its critical role in epigenetics and physiological links to several human diseases, it is also of tremendous biological and medical interest. The m6A mark is dynamically reversed by human demethylases FTO and ALKBH5, however the mechanism by which these enzymes selectively recognise their target transcripts remains unclear. Here, we report combined biophysical and biochemical studies on the specificity determinants of m6A demethylases, which led to the identification of an m6A-mediated substrate discrimination mechanism. Our results reveal that m6A itself serves as a ‘conformational marker’, which induces different conformational outcomes in RNAs depending on sequence context. This critically impacts its interactions with several m6A-recognising proteins, including FTO and ALKBH5. Remarkably, through the RNA-remodelling effects of m6A, the demethylases were able to discriminate substrates with very similar nucleotide sequences. Our findings provide novel insights into the biological functions of m6A modifications. The mechanism identified in this work is likely of significance to other m6A-recognising proteins.

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  • FTO and ALKBH5 have high specificity to demethylate N6-methyladenine (m6A), the most frequent internal modification of RNAs.

    “Of high importance is the high specificity of FTO and ALKBH5 to demethylate the most frequent internal modification of RNAs, N6-methyladenine (m6A) [126].”

    From Vitamin C-Sources, Physiological Role, Kinetics, Deficiency, Use, Toxicity, and Determination (2021) · cites this paper as [126]

    The Abstract (page not provided) says FTO and ALKBH5 are highly specific for m6A and directly reverse its addition to RNA. It describes m6A as a pervasive internal modification of mRNA, but does not establish that it is the most frequent internal modification of RNAs. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Authors
Zou, S., Toh, J. D. W., Wong, K. H. Q., Gao, Y.-G., Hong, W., & Woon, E. C. Y.
Affiliations
  • National University of Singapore (SG)
  • Nanyang Technological University (SG)
  • Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (SG)
Corresponding author
Woon, Esther C. Y.
Venue
Scientific Reports
Published
2016-05-09
Volume
6
Issue
1
Pages
25677-25677
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2346734984
Cited by
158
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 2
FWCI
6.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • National University of Singapore (submittedVersion)
  • DR-NTU (Nanyang Technological University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Research Foundation
  • National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF-RF2009-RF001-267)
  • Ministry of Education - Singapore (MOE2014‐T2‐1‐083)
  • Nanyang Technological University
  • Ministry of Education, India
  • Medical Research Council
  • National Medical Research Council (NMRC/BNIG/2008/2013)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA modifications and cancer
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA regulation and disease
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
Keywords
N6-methyladenosine, RNA demethylase, FTO, ALKBH5, substrate specificity, RNA conformation, post-transcriptional RNA modification, sequence context
MeSH terms
AlkB Homolog 5, RNA Demethylase, Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO, Demethylation, Adenosine, Base Sequence, Humans, Oxidation-Reduction, Protein Conformation, RNA, Substrate Specificity, Thermodynamics, Consensus Sequence, Amino Acid Motifs, RNA Stability, Biocatalysis

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