FTO separation-of-function mutations alter m6A versus m6Am demethylation selectivity on RNA

Abstract

The RNA demethylase FTO erases N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and cap-associated N6,2'-O-dimethyladenosine (m6Am) modifications. However, the molecular basis of its substrate selectivity and the biological effects of m6A versus m6Am demethylation in cells remain poorly understood. Here we report two engineered FTO separation-of-function mutants to selectively demethylate either m6A or m6Am modifications on RNA. While investigating the propensity of FTO active site residues to undergo self-hydroxylation, we found that mutations of FTO residue L203 resulted in impaired m6A demethylation but retained wild-type levels of m6Am demethylation, and that FTO L203A could function as a selective m6Am demethylase. Conversely, building on our recent work that identified conserved aromatic residues on FTO involved in mRNA 5' cap recognition, we found that the FTO H232A/W278A double mutant efficiently demethylates m6A modifications while exhibiting substantially impaired m6Am demethylation, making it a selective m6A demethylase. Together, these complementary FTO variants represent the first set of engineered mutations that shift FTO demethylation selectivity between m6A and m6Am substrates. These tools enable selective enzymatic removal of m6A or m6Am modifications in vitro for sequencing applications, and may facilitate understanding of FTO-mediated m6A versus m6Am demethylation in cellular and disease model systems.