Mouse Alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase FTO,FTO ELI

RNA demethylase that mediates oxidative demethylation of different RNA species, such as mRNAs, tRNAs and snRNAs, and acts as a regulator of fat mass, adipogenesis and energy homeostasis (PubMed:17991826, PubMed:18775698, PubMed:28002401).

Specifically demethylates N(6)-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA, the most prevalent internal modification of messenger RNA (mRNA) in higher eukaryotes (PubMed:28002401).

M6A demethylation by FTO affects mRNA expression and stability (By similarity).

Also able to demethylate m6A in U6 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) (By similarity).

Mediates demethylation of N(6),2'-O-dimethyladenosine cap (m6A(m)), by demethylating the N(6)-methyladenosine at the second transcribed position of mRNAs and U6 snRNA (PubMed:28002401).

Demethylation of m6A(m) in the 5'-cap by FTO affects mRNA stability by promoting susceptibility to decapping (By similarity).

Also acts as a tRNA demethylase by removing N(1)-methyladenine from various tRNAs (By similarity).

Has no activity towards 1-methylguanine (By similarity).

Has no detectable activity towards double-stranded DNA (By similarity).

Also able to repair alkylated DNA and RNA by oxidative demethylation: demethylates single-stranded RNA containing 3-methyluracil, single-stranded DNA containing 3-methylthymine and has low demethylase activity towards single-stranded DNA containing 1-methyladenine or 3-methylcytosine (PubMed:17991826, PubMed:18775698).

Ability to repair alkylated DNA and RNA is however unsure in vivo (PubMed:17991826, PubMed:18775698).

Involved in the regulation of fat mass, adipogenesis and body weight, thereby contributing to the regulation of body size and body fat accumulation (PubMed:19234441, PubMed:19680540, PubMed:21076408, PubMed:23817550, PubMed:23300482).

Involved in the regulation of thermogenesis and the control of adipocyte differentiation into brown or white fat cells (PubMed:19234441, PubMed:19680540).

Regulates activity of the dopaminergic midbrain circuitry via its ability to demethylate m6A in mRNAs (PubMed:23817550).

{ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q9C0B1, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17991826, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18775698, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19234441, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19680540, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21076408, ECO:0000269|PubMed:23300482, ECO:0000269|PubMed:23817550, ECO:0000269|PubMed:28002401}.