TETonic shift: biological roles of TET proteins in DNA demethylation and transcription
In many organisms, the methylation of cytosine in DNA has a key role in silencing'parasitic'
DNA elements, regulating transcription and establishing cellular identity. The recent
discovery that ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins are 5-methylcytosine oxidases has
provided several chemically plausible pathways for the reversal of DNA methylation, thus
triggering a paradigm shift in our understanding of how changes in DNA methylation are
coupled to cell differentiation, embryonic development and cancer.
DNA elements, regulating transcription and establishing cellular identity. The recent
discovery that ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins are 5-methylcytosine oxidases has
provided several chemically plausible pathways for the reversal of DNA methylation, thus
triggering a paradigm shift in our understanding of how changes in DNA methylation are
coupled to cell differentiation, embryonic development and cancer.
Abstract
In many organisms, the methylation of cytosine in DNA has a key role in silencing 'parasitic' DNA elements, regulating transcription and establishing cellular identity. The recent discovery that ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins are 5-methylcytosine oxidases has provided several chemically plausible pathways for the reversal of DNA methylation, thus triggering a paradigm shift in our understanding of how changes in DNA methylation are coupled to cell differentiation, embryonic development and cancer.
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