DNA甲基化修饰研究概述

A Summarization of DNA Methyaltion Modification Research

DNA甲基化修饰作为一种重要的表观遗传修饰,能通过影响染色质结构,DNA构象、稳定性以及与蛋白质相互作用方式等,起到调控基因表达的作用。在正常的生理条件以及一些疾病发生过程中均起着重要作用。本文概述了DNA甲基化修饰的动态变化,并着重论述了最近的一项与DNA修饰有着密切关系的发现。TET1是一个5mC加氧酶,可以将5mC转变为5hmC,在DNA去甲基化过程中可能扮演着重要角色。

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification and regulates gene activity through chromatin structural alteration, DNA stability, and interacting proteins. The modification plays an essential role in normal physiological and pathological processes. Here we summarized the dynamic change of DNA modification, with an emphasis on a recent discovery that TET1 （ten-eleven translocation 1） is an oxygenase for DNA methylation. TET1 changes DNA methylation state by converting 5-methyl cytosine （5mC） to its hydroxylated form, 5- hydroxymethyl cytosine （5hmC）, and consequently, is involved in the dynamic change of DNA demethylation.