Detailed resume of RNA m6A demethylases

N 6-Methyladenosine (m 6 A) is the most abundant internal modification in eukaryotic mRNA, playing critical role in various bioprocesses. Like other epigenetic modifications, m 6 A modification can be catalyzed by the methyltransferase complex and erased dynamically to maintain cells homeostasis. Up to now, only two m 6 A demethylases have been reported, fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) and alkylation protein AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5), involving in a wide range of mRNA biological progress, including mRNA shearing, export, metabolism and stability. Furthermore, they participate in many significantly biological signaling pathway, and contribute to the progress and development of cancer along with other diseases. In this review, we focus on the studies about structure, inhibitors development and biological function of FTO and ALKBH5. This review systematically describes the chemical and biological functions of RNA demethylases FTO and ALKBH5, from their crystal structure to inhibitors development and screening, demethylation mechanism and substrates to biological functions and roles in diseases.