5-Hydroxymethylcytosine: A new player in brain disorders?
5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5 hmC), a novel modified cytosine, is oxidized from 5-methylcytosine (5 mC) by the ten-eleven translocation (Tet) protein family. The specific distribution of 5 hmC in mammalian brain and its roles in gene regulation suggest that 5 hmC is important in brain development. 5 hmC may also contribute to the mechanisms underlying neurological diseases. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of 5 hmC, with an emphasis on its roles in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China.
Ying
Y
Cheng
Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Alison
A
Bernstein
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China.
Dahua
D
Chen
Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Electronic address: peng.jin@emory.edu.
Peng
P
Jin
D044503:5-Methylcytosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D003596:Cytosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans
C011865:5-hydroxymethylcytosine; D044503:5-Methylcytosine; D003596:Cytosine
5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC); 5-Methylcytosine (5mC); Neurodegenerative disease; Neurodevelopmental disorder; Ten-eleven translocation (Tet) protein