Beilstein J. Org. Chem.2014,10, 7–11, doi:10.3762/bjoc.10.2
(5hmC) and 5-formylcytosine (5fC) derivatives that can be used as tools in the emerging field of epigenetics for deciphering chemical biology of TET-mediated processes.
Keywords: 3,6-dihydrodeoxycytidine derivatives; DNAdemethylation; epigenetics; 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) derivatives; TET
is a densely studied field, its reverse process has not yet been deciphered. In trying to understand DNAdemethylation several mechanisms involving new cytosine-modified bases as intermediates have been proposed (Scheme 1). (1) The most widely accepted pathway includes iterative oxidation of 5mC
to play a decisive role in their self-renewal process [27]. Interestingly, the levels of 5hmC in several cancer types are strongly reduced relative to the corresponding normal tissue around the tumor [28]. To gain deeper insights into the chemical biology of DNAdemethylation pathways further
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Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1:
Proposed steps for DNA demethylation (for details see text).