AlkB, Alkylation Repair Homolog 2 (ALKBH2)

The Escherichia coli AlkB protein protects against the cytotoxicity of methylating agents by repair of the specific DNA lesions generated in single-stranded DNA. ALKBH2 and ALKBH3 are E. coli AlkB homologs that catalyze the removal of 1-methyladenine and 3-methylcytosine.The deduced protein shares 30.8% amino acid identity over the core region with E. coli AlkB and shares similarity to alpha-ketoglutarate/Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenases in the C-terminal region. Northern blot analysis detected ALKBH2 expression in all tissues examined, as well as several carcinoma cell lines, with highest expression in liver and bladder. Immunofluorescence studies localized ALKBH2 to the nucleus with a diffuse pattern throughout the nucleoplasm and accumulation in the nucleoli.