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Oxidative Demethylation of DNA and RNA Mediated by Non‐Heme Iron‐Dependent Dioxygenases
Author(s) -
Lu Lining,
Zhu Chenxu,
Xia Bo,
Yi Chengqi
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
chemistry – an asian journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.18
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1861-471X
pISSN - 1861-4728
DOI - 10.1002/asia.201402148
Subject(s) - alkb , dna methylation , nucleic acid , rna methylation , methylation , demethylation , dna , epigenetics , rna , methyltransferase , dna demethylation , chemistry , biochemistry , dna damage , biology , heme , dna repair , gene , gene expression , enzyme
Abstract DNA/RNA methylation can be generated by methyltransferases and thus plays a critical role in regulating cellular processes; alternatively, nucleic acid methylation can be produced by methylation agents and is cytotoxic/mutagenic if left unrepaired. Oxidative demethylation mediated by non‐heme iron‐dependent dioxygenases is an efficient way to reverse either the cellular roles of regulatory methylation or the cytotoxic/mutagenic effects of methylation damage. In this Focus Review we summarize recent advances in the study of nucleic acid dioxygenases exemplified by the TET and AlkB family proteins, with an emphasis on chemical insights from the recent literature. Comparison of the chemical mechanisms of these dioxygenases revealed that differences in the mechanism also contribute significantly to their distinct biological functions.