TET enzymes and DNA hydroxymethylation in neural development and function — How critical are they?

摘要

Epigeneticmodificationsofthegenomeplayimportantrolesincontrollinggenetranscriptionthusregulatingseveralmolecularandcellularprocesses.Anovelepigeneticmodificationndash;5-hydroxymethylcytosine(5hmC)ndash;hasbeenrecentlydescribedandattractedalotofattentionduetoitspossibleinvolvementintheactiveDNAdemethylationmechanism.TETenzymesaredioxygenasescapableofoxidizingthemethylgroupof5-methylcytosines(5mC)andthusconverting5mCinto5hmC.AlthoughmostoftheworkonTETenzymesand5hmChasbeencarriedoutinembryonicstem(ES)cells,thehighestlevelsof5hmCoccurinthebrainandinneurons,pointingtoaroleforthisepigeneticmodificationinthecontrolofneuronaldifferentiation,neuralplasticityandbrainfunctions.HerewereviewthemostrecentadvancesontheroleofTETenzymesandDNAhydroxymethylationinneuronaldifferentiationandfunction./p/div