ALKBH7 Antibody #15093

The AlkB alkylation repair homolog 7 (ALKBH7, ABH7) is a member of the alkylated DNA repair homolog family that is responsible for repair of DNA damage induced by oxidation and alkylation (1). ALKBH7 is a nuclear encoded protein that contains an amino-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence that directs import of ALKBH7 to the mitochondria (2). Unlike other Alkb family members, the ALKBH7 protein lacks a functional nucleotide recognition lid essential for nucleobase-binding, which abrogates any DNA or RNA repair capability (3). In response to DNA damage, mitochondrial ALKBH7 triggers the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential. The resultant loss of mitochondrial function leads to depletion of cellular energy and programmed cell death (2). Research studies indicate that ALKBH7 knockdown cells are resistant to apoptotic cell death induced by oxidizing and alkylating agents, which suggests that ALKBH7 may play a novel function in promoting cell death (2). Indeed, ALKBH7 has been identified as a key regulator of the alkylation or oxidizing DNA damaged induced necroptosis pathway (2).