title: From development to diseases: the role of 5hmC in brain.
abstract: Epigenetic modulations play essential roles in diverse biological processes. During the past several years, DNA demethylation has been discovered in embryonic and postnatal development. Although some potential functions of DNA methylation have been demonstrated already, many questions remain in terms of unveiling the role of 5hmC; whether it serves either merely as an intermediate of DNA demethylation or as a stable epigenetic marker. 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is proved to be not merely serving as an intermediate of DNA demethylation, but also acts as a stable epigenetic marker. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the function of 5hmC in brain with the focus on the neuronal activity, neurodevelopment, aging, and neurological diseases.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, China.
authors.forename: Wenjia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, China.
authors.forename: Liqun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.affiliation: The Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, China; The Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China; Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. Electronic address: xuekun_li@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xuekun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D044503:5-Methylcytosine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D003596:Cytosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C011865:5-hydroxymethylcytosine; D044503:5-Methylcytosine; D003596:Cytosine
keywords: 5-hydroxymethylcytosine; Brain; DNA demethylation; Development; Neurological disorders