Quantitative mass spectrometry-based analysis of β-D-glucosyl-5-hydroxymethyluracil in genomic DNA of Trypanosoma brucei.

ABSTRACT: β-D-glucosyl-5-hydroxymethyluracil (base J) is a hyper-modified nucleobase found in the nuclear DNA of kinetoplastid parasites. With replacement of a fraction of thymine in DNA, J is localized primarily in telomeric regions of all organisms carrying this modified base. The biosynthesis of J occurs in two putative steps: first, a specific thymine in DNA is recognized and converted into 5-hydroxymethyluracil (5-HmU) by J-binding proteins (JBP1 and JBP2); a glucosyl transferase (GT) subsequently glucosylates the 5-HmU to yield J. Although several recent studies revealed the roles of internal J in regulating transcription in kinetoplastids, functions of telomeric J and proteins involved in J synthesis remain elusive. Assessing the functions of base J and understanding fully its biosynthesis ne

SUBMITTER: Liu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4163122 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature