DNA modifications walk a fine line between epigenetics and mutagenesis

Review Genetics & Heredity

DNA methylation: a historical perspective

Alexandra L. Mattei et al.

Summary: The discovery of 5-methylcytosine in bacteria in 1925 led to a gradual understanding of the biological importance of DNA methylation. While key factors that establish, maintain, and remove DNA methylation are now known, the precise role and interpretation of DNA methylation patterns are still under investigation. The availability of base-resolution methylation maps has greatly enhanced our knowledge in this field.

TRENDS IN GENETICS (2022)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Active DNA demethylation promotes cell fate specification and the DNA damage response

Dongpeng Wang et al.

Summary: Neurons have high levels of single-strand DNA breaks, which may be caused by the excision of methylcytosines and can lead to DNA damage response and neuronal cell death.

SCIENCE (2022)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Oxidative stress-mediated epigenetic regulation by G-quadruplexes

Aaron M. Fleming et al.

Summary: The study shows that oxidation of guanine bases in G-quadruplex sequences in gene promoters can lead to both up- and downregulation of gene expression, depending on the location. The base excision repair pathway plays a key role in this process.

NAR CANCER (2021)

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Article Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology

G-quadruplexes are transcription factor binding hubs in human chromatin

Jochen Spiegel et al.

Summary: This study reveals the important role of DNA secondary structures in transcription factor binding, with G-quadruplex secondary structures being prevalent binding sites for many transcription factors in human chromatin, promoting increased transcription of genes.

GENOME BIOLOGY (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences