The Colorful History of Active DNA Demethylation

• Published in: Cell Vol. 133; no. 7; pp. 1145 - 1148
• Main Authors: Ooi, Steen K.T., Bestor, Timothy H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 27.06.2008
• Subjects: Animals; DNA - metabolism; DNA Methylation; DNA Modification Methylases - metabolism; Mammals - genetics; Mammals - metabolism; Plants - genetics; Plants - metabolism

Patterns of DNA cytosine methylation are subject to mitotic inheritance in both plants and vertebrates. Plants use 5-methylcytosine glycosylases and the base excision repair pathway to remove excess cytosine methylation. In mammals, active demethylation has been proposed to operate via several very...