Reversing DNA methylation: mechanisms, genomics, and biological functions.
Methylation of cytosines in the mammalian genome represents a key epigenetic modification and is dynamically regulated during development. Compelling evidence now suggests that dynamic regulation of DNA methylation is mainly achieved through a cyclic enzymatic cascade comprised of cytosine methylation, iterative oxidation of methyl group by TET dioxygenases, and restoration of unmodified cytosines by either replication-dependent dilution or DNA glycosylase-initiated base excision repair. In this review, we discuss the mechanism and function of DNA demethylation in mammalian genomes, focusing particularly on how developmental modulation of the cytosine-modifying pathway is coupled to active reversal of DNA methylation in diverse biological processes.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, WAB-149G, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, WAB-149G, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, WAB-149G, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, WAB-149G, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Hao
H
Wu
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, WAB-149G, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, WAB-149G, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, WAB-149G, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, WAB-149G, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: yzhang@genetics.med.harvard.edu.
Yi
Y
Zhang
D044503:5-Methylcytosine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D019175:DNA Methylation; D016678:Genome; D006801:Humans; D010089:Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
D044503:5-Methylcytosine; D010089:Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating