Table 2.

Biological functions of the m⁶A demethylase FTO

Epigenetic FTO functions	Transcriptional effects	References
FTO-catalyzed demethylation of m6A in mRNAs	Increased transcription and mRNA stability, modification of m6A-dependent alternative splicing and miRNA binding to target mRNAs	[125–127, 138–143]
FTO over-expression	Generation of the pro-adipogenic short isoform of RUNX1T1 promoting MCE increasing adipocyte numbers	[145, 146]
Increased FTO mRNA	Reduction of ghrelin mRNA m6A methylation resulting in increased ghrelin mRNA abundance	[154]
FTO-deficient MEFs	Reduced protein expression of the mTORC1 activator leucyl-tRNA synthetase	[110]
Increased FTO expression	Association of FTO CpG hypomethylation in T2DM with recuded m6A levels in mRNA of T2DM patients	[31, 32, 265]
FTO over-expression	Increased expression of C/EBPβ mRNA, the key transcription factor of gluconeogenesis and adipogenesis	[266, 267]
FTO over-expression	Loss of stem cell self-renewal capability	[207]
FTO over-expression	Increased expression of PRL mRNA enhancing PIP expression involved in PC and BC progression	[185–187]
FTO over-expression	Interaction with APO ϵ4, increasing the risk of AD	[321]