title: Role of Base Excision "Repair" Enzymes in Erasing Epigenetic Marks from DNA.
abstract: Base excision repair (BER) is one of several DNA repair pathways found in all three domains of life. BER counters the mutagenic and cytotoxic effects of damage that occurs continuously to the nitrogenous bases in DNA, and its critical role in maintaining genomic integrity is well established. However, BER also performs essential functions in processes other than DNA repair, where it acts on naturally modified bases in DNA. A prominent example is the central role of BER in mediating active DNA demethylation, a multistep process that erases the epigenetic mark 5-methylcytosine (5mC), and derivatives thereof, converting them back to cytosine. Herein, we review recent advances in the understanding of how BER mediates this critical component of epigenetic regulation in plants and animals.
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States.
authors: Alexander C
authors: AC
authors: Drohat
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States.
authors: Christopher T
authors: CT
authors: Coey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004260:DNA Repair; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018744:DNA, Plant; D004247:DNA