Prediction of novel families of enzymes involved in oxidative and other complex modifications of bases in nucleic acids.

ABSTRACT: Modified bases in nucleic acids present a layer of information that directs biological function over and beyond the coding capacity of the conventional bases. While a large number of modified bases have been identified, many of the enzymes generating them still remain to be discovered. Recently, members of the 2-oxoglutarate- and iron(II)-dependent dioxygenase super-family, which modify diverse substrates from small molecules to biopolymers, were predicted and subsequently confirmed to catalyze oxidative modification of bases in nucleic acids. Of these, two distinct families, namely the AlkB and the kinetoplastid base J binding proteins (JBP) catalyze in situ hydroxylation of bases in nucleic acids. Using sensitive computational analysis of sequences, structures and contextual information

SUBMITTER: Iyer LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2995806 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature