# Oxidative stress and RNA methylation

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER · 2021 · $386,458

## Abstract

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a prevalent chemical modification of RNA that influences gene expression and
cell signaling. The levels of m6A are dynamically regulated by a RNA methyltransferase complex and by the
alpha-ketoglutarate (αKG)-dependent RNA demethylases, FTO and ALKBH5. Misregulated RNA methylation,
and its attendant effects on the epitranscriptome, has been associated with a host of human diseases,
including obesity/diabetes, auto-immunity, neurodegeneration and cancer. Notably, these conditions can all
develop in association with environmental factors that influence oxidative stress, e.g., atmospheric pollutants,
cigarette smoking, ultraviolet rays, radiation, toxic chemicals, etc., but the putative influence of redox
homeostasis on RNA methylation is unknown. To start to address this knowledge gap, we first considered that
the activity of the m6A “erasers” FTO and ALKBH5 rely on intact intermediary metabolism, a point that we
illustrated with the discovery that accumulation of D-2-hydroxyglurate (D-2-HG) in IDH1/2 mutant cancers
inhibits FTO/ALKBH5 and elevates m6A levels. We expanded on these data by showing that loss of D2- or L2-
hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase (D2HGDH, L2HGDH), which convert D- or L-2-HG into αKG, also suppress
FTO/ALKBH5 activity and promotes RNA hypermethylation. Importantly, work from our group and others have
uncovered a marked interplay between cellular accumulation of 2-HG, intermediary metabolism and redox
homeostasis. These observations led us to speculate that high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may
broadly regulate the epitranscriptome. To start to test this concept, we exposed human B cells (normal and
malignant) to physiologically relevant levels of H202 and ethanol and detected a marked increase in m6A
levels. Using CRISPR KO models of FTO and ALKBH5, we preliminarily confirmed our hypothesis that ROS
modify RNA methylation by inhibiting the activity of RNA demethylases. Notably, D2HGDH and L2HGDH are
NAD+-dependent enzymes, and since ROS elevation consumes NAD+, it is possible that suppression of
D2HGDH/L2HGDH play a part in the cross-talk between redox homeostasis and RNA methylation. Here, we
will use genetic models in vitro an in vivo to test the overall hypothesis that oxidative stress-mediated
disruption of intermediary metabolism modifies the epitranscriptome. More specifically, we postulate that NAD+
consumption secondary to oxidative stress impairs the activity of D2HGDH and L2HGDH, disrupts 2-HG/αKG
homeostasis, thus inhibiting FTO/ALKBH5 activity and promoting RNA hypermethylation. In aim 1, we will
mechanistically explain how ROS inhibits FTO/ALKBH5 activity and test if NAD+-modulating agents can correct
the RNA hypermethylation associated with oxidative stress. In aim 2, using a novel compound mouse model of
B-cell lymphoma, we will test the concept that suppression of RNA demethylases is integral to the oncogenic
role of ROS. In aim 3, we will define the ROS-driven methylRNA/gen...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10144440
- **Project number:** 5R01ES031522-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Ricardo C Aguiar
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $386,458
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-14 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10144440

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10144440, Oxidative stress and RNA methylation (5R01ES031522-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10144440. Licensed CC0.

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