[an error occurred while processing this directive]

HEREDITAS(Beijing) ›› 2014, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (5): 403-410.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1005.2014.0403

    Next Articles

DNA methylation and demethylation: current status and future per-spective

Dajun Deng   

  1. Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China
  • Received:2014-01-07 Revised:2014-01-27 Online:2014-05-20 Published:2014-04-25
  • Contact: Dajun Deng E-mail:dengdajun@bjmu.edu.cn

Abstract:

DNA methylation plays important roles in cell differentiation, embryonic development, host adaptations to environmental factors, and pathogenesis through regulation of gene transcription and imprinting, X-inactivation, and defense of foreign genetic material invasion, is currently one of the hottest research fields on epigenetics. In the past few years, a number of important findings on DNA methylation have been achieved. These findings include discovery of TETs-catalyzed cytosine hydroxymethylation and its functions in the early embryonic development; the relationship between active and passive DNA demethylation; establishment and maintenance of DNA methylation patterns and their associations with histone modifications, chromatin configuration, polycomb group proteins and non-coding RNA bindings. DNA methylation has become a new potential biomarker and therapy target.

Key words: DNA methylation, demethylation, epigenetics, homeostasis, translational research