title: Apoptosis and DNA methylation.
abstract: Epigenetic mechanisms assist in maintaining gene expression patterns and cellular properties in developing and adult tissues. The molecular pathology of disease states frequently includes perturbation of DNA and histone methylation patterns, which can activate apoptotic pathways associated with maintenance of genome integrity. This perspective focuses on the pathways linking DNA methyltransferases and methyl-CpG binding proteins to apoptosis, and includes new bioinformatic analyses to characterize the evolutionary origin of two G/T mismatch-specific thymine DNA glycosylases, MBD4 and TDG.
authors.affiliation: MRC Human Genetics Unit, IGMM, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK. richard.meehan@hgu.mrc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Huan X
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hackett
authors.forename: Colm
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nestor
authors.forename: Donncha S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Dunican
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madej
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Reddington
authors.forename: Sari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pennings
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Richard R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Meehan