Currently, DNA methylation is one of the most broadly studied and well-characterized epigenetic modifications associated with gene silencing. The biological importance of 5-mC as a major epigenetic modification in phenotype and gene expression has been widely recognized. DNA hypomethylation is likely caused by methyl-deficiency due to a variety of environmental influences and has been proposed as a molecular marker in multiple biological processes such as cancer. The quantification of 5-mC content or global methylation in diseased or environmentally impacted cells could provide useful information for detection and analysis of disease. A less widely studied but potentially equally important modification is that of methylated RNA. Cytosine methylation (5-mC) of RNA is not new to the field of epigenetics however the functional relevance of this modification remains unknown. The known RNA methyltransferases are DNMT2 and NSun2; whose target substrate is tRNA. The researchers at Welcome Trust – Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute in the UK, have used an innovative technique called miCLIP (individual-nucleotide-resolution crosslinking and immunoprecipitation method) to identify site specific methylation in tRNAs and other target substrates of NSun2 – namely messenger and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs).
Their findings are summarized below:
You can read more about this interesting work here: Shobbir Hussain, et al. NSun2-Mediated Cytosine-5 Methylation of Vault Noncoding RNA Determines Its Processing into Regulatory Small RNAs. (Cell Reports 4, 255–261, 2013)
Understanding trait inheritance is crucial for unraveling the complexities of life's blueprint and how it…
Flame retardants are ubiquitous chemicals added to numerous consumer products to prevent the spread of…
Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain disorder that impacts millions globally. While the exact cause…
In the quest to understand the intricate interplay between genetics and the environment in disease…
Cleft lip and palate stand out as the most prevalent craniofacial birth anomalies worldwide, affecting…
In the quest to unravel the mysteries of aging, scientists have long turned to our…