title: N6-methyladenine DNA modification in the unicellular eukaryotic organism Tetrahymena thermophila.
abstract: N6-methyladenine DNA (6mA) modification exists in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes in which it plays a crucial role in regulating numerous biological processes. In prokaryotes, 6mA is a marker to distinguish self from foreign DNA. Its role in eukaryotes, however, remains elusive. Ciliates were among the first eukaryotes reported to contain 6mA. In the model organism T. thermophila, cellular localization and features of 6mA have been extensively studied, especially in ribosomal DNA (rDNA) molecules. Here, we summarize the features and potential functions of 6mA in Tetrahymena thermophila and other ciliates, and the major findings and contributions of the Tetrahymena model in studies of 6mA methylation. We also discuss other questions in order to improve understanding of the function and evolution of 6mA in eukaryotes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
authors.forename: Yalan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
authors.forename: Yongqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266003, China. Electronic address: shangao@ouc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001686:Biological Phenomena / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry*; D016808:Tetrahymena thermophila / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000225:Adenine; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; C000730567:6-methyladenine
keywords: Ciliate; Methylation; N(6)-methyladenine; Tetrahymena thermophila