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A Photo‐responsive Small‐Molecule Approach for the Opto‐epigenetic Modulation of DNA Methylation
Author(s) -
Nguyen Ha Phuong,
Stewart Sabrina,
Kukwikila Mikiembo N.,
Jones Sioned Fôn,
OffenbartlStiegert Daniel,
Mao Shiqing,
Balasubramanian Shankar,
Beck Stephan,
Howorka Stefan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201901139
Subject(s) - epigenetics , dna methylation , dna , methyltransferase , epigenomics , biology , methylation , small molecule , computational biology , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biochemistry , gene , gene expression
Controlling the functional dynamics of DNA within living cells is essential in biomedical research. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation play a key role in this endeavour. DNA methylation can be controlled by genetic means. Yet there are few chemical tools available for the spatial and temporal modulation of this modification. Herein, we present a small‐molecule approach to modulate DNA methylation with light. The strategy uses a photo‐tuneable version of a clinically used drug (5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine) to alter the catalytic activity of DNA methyltransferases, the enzymes that methylate DNA. After uptake by cells, the photo‐regulated molecule can be light‐controlled to reduce genome‐wide DNA methylation levels in proliferating cells. The chemical tool complements genetic, biochemical, and pharmacological approaches to study the role of DNA methylation in biology and medicine.