Uncovering the Role of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in the Epigenome

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Genet

Specialty Genetics

Date 2011 Nov 16

PMID 22083101

Citations 368

Authors

Miguel R Branco

Gabriella Ficz

Wolf Reik

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Just over 2 years ago, TET1 was found to catalyse the oxidation of 5-methylcytosine, a well-known epigenetic mark, into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in mammalian DNA. The exciting prospect of a novel epigenetic modification that may dynamically regulate DNA methylation has led to the rapid accumulation of publications from a wide array of fields, from biochemistry to stem cell biology. Although we have only started to scratch the surface, interesting clues on the role of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine are quickly emerging.

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