N⁶-Methyladenine in Eukaryotic DNA: Tissue Distribution, Early Embryo Development, and Neuronal Toxicity.

ABSTRACT: DNA methylation is one of the most important epigenetic modifications and is closely related with several biological processes such as regulation of gene transcription and the development of non-malignant diseases. The prevailing dogma states that DNA methylation in eukaryotes occurs essentially through 5-methylcytosine (5mC) but recently adenine methylation was also found to be present in eukaryotes. In mouse embryonic stem cells, 6-methyladenine (6mA) was associated with the repression and silencing of genes, particularly in the X-chromosome, known to play an important role in cell fate determination. Here, we have demonstrated that 6mA is a ubiquitous eukaryotic epigenetic modification that is put in place during epigenetically sensitive periods such as embryogenesis and fetal developme

SUBMITTER: Fernandes SB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8181416 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature