TETonic shift: biological roles of TET proteins in DNA demethylation and transcription.

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.

SUBMITTER: Pastor WA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3804139 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature