AlkB, Alkylation Repair Homolog 1 (ALKBH1)

The ABH cDNA encodes a deduced 299-amino acid protein that is 52% similar and 23% identical to AlkB. Northern blot analysis revealed ubiquitous expression of a 2.1-kb ABH transcript. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that ABH was expressed as a 34-kD protein.

The deduced 389-amino acid protein has a C-terminal AlkB homology domain that is predicted to function as a 2-oxoglutarate- and Fe(II)-dependent oxygenase domain. Quantitative real-time PCR detected ABH1 expression in all 16 tissues examined, with highest expression in spleen, followed by pancreas and placenta. Fluorescence-tagged ABH1 was expressed predominantly in the nucleus of transfected HeLa cells, with weaker cytoplasmic staining.