DNA repair by bacterial AlkB proteins

The Escherichia coli AlkB protein is an iron- and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenase, repairing 1-methyladenine and 3-methyicytosine lesions in DNA. AlkB homologues are present in a number of bacterial species, and some bacteria have two different AlkB proteins. AlkB also repairs lesions in RNA, and the biological significance of RNA repair is discussed. (C) 2003 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.