Single-Molecule Detection of 5-Hydroxymethyleytosine in DNA through Chemical Modification and Nanopore Analysis

摘要

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification of the genome. For example, 5-methylcy-tosine (5mC) plays a key role in the regulation of gene expression associated with development and tumorigenesis. Recently, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcyto-sine have also been found in mammalian DNA. Changes in the level and distribution of 5hmC bases may be associated with the maintenance and differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells and transcriptional regulation in those cells. 5hmC has also been shown to play a role in the regulation of chromatin structure and gene expression in central nervous system cells.