title: DNA Editing by APOBECs: A Genomic Preserver and Transformer.
abstract: Information warfare is not limited to the cyber world because it is waged within our cells as well. The unique AID (activation-induced cytidine deaminase)/APOBEC (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide) family comprises proteins that alter DNA sequences by converting deoxycytidines to deoxyuridines through deamination. This C-to-U DNA editing enables them to inhibit parasitic viruses and retrotransposons by disrupting their genomic content. In addition to attacking genomic invaders, APOBECs can target their host genome, which can be beneficial by initiating processes that create antibody diversity needed for the immune system or by accelerating the rate of evolution. AID can also alter gene regulation by removing epigenetic modifications from genomic DNA. However, when uncontrolled, these powerful agents of change can threaten genome stability and eventually lead to cancer.
authors.affiliation: The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 52900 Israel.
authors.forename: Binyamin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Knisbacher
authors.affiliation: The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 52900 Israel.
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.affiliation: The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 52900 Israel. Electronic address: erez.levanon@biu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Erez Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Levanon
mesh_terms: D000071478:APOBEC Deaminases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003564:Cytidine Deaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D043525:Cytosine Deaminase / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016678:Genome; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D018626:Retroelements
chemical_list: D018626:Retroelements; D004247:DNA; D043525:Cytosine Deaminase; D000071478:APOBEC Deaminases; C502889:APOBEC3 proteins, human; C510823:APOBEC4 protein, human; D003564:Cytidine Deaminase
keywords: AID; APOBEC; C-to-U editing; DNA editing; genome evolution; retrotransposons