5-Hydroxymethylcytosine is a predominantly stable DNA modification
View / Open Files
Authors
Bachman, Martin
Uribe-Lewis, Santiago
Yang, Xiaoping
Williams, Michael
Murrell, Adele
Publication Date
2014-09-21Journal Title
Nature Chemistry
ISSN
1755-4330
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Volume
6
Pages
1049-1055
Language
English
Type
Article
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Bachman, M., Uribe-Lewis, S., Yang, X., Williams, M., Murrell, A., & Balasubramanian, S. (2014). 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine is a predominantly stable DNA modification. Nature Chemistry, 6 1049-1055. https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.2064
Abstract
5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (hmC) is an oxidation product of 5-methylcytosine (mC) present in DNA of most mammalian cells. Reduction of hmC levels in DNA is a hallmark of cancers. Elucidating the dynamics of this oxidation reaction and the lifetime of hmC in DNA is fundamental to understanding hmC function. Using stable isotope labeling of cytosine derivatives in the DNA of mammalian cells and ultrasensitive tandem liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS), we show that the majority of hmC is a stable modification, as opposed to a transient intermediate. In contrast with DNA methylation, which occurs immediately during replication, hmC forms slowly over the first 30 h following DNA synthesis. Isotopic labeling of DNA in mouse tissues confirmed the stability of hmC in vivo and demonstrated a relationship between global levels of hmC and cell proliferation. These insights have important implications for understanding the states of chemically modified DNA bases in health and disease.
Sponsorship
We would like to acknowledge the CRUK CI Flow Cytometry and Histopathology/ISH core facilities for their contributions, David Oxley, Clive d’Santos and Donna Michelle-Smith for their support with mass spectrometry, Xiangang Zou for his help with mES cells and David Tannahill for critical reading of the manuscript. This work was funded by Cancer Research UK (all authors) and the Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Award (S.B.).
Funder references
Cancer Research UK (11961)
Wellcome Trust (099232/Z/12/Z)
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.2064
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/246089
Rights
Licence:
http://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved