5-hydroxymethylcytosine: a potential therapeutic target in cancer. (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rodger, Euan J; Chatterjee, Aniruddha; Morison, Ian M
• Is Part Of: Epigenomics. Volume 6:Number 5(2014)
• Page Start: 503
• Page End: 514
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: 5-hydroxymethylcytosine -- 5-methylcytosine -- cancer -- demethylation -- epigenetic therapy -- hydroxymethylation -- methylation; Epigenesis -- Periodicals; Genomics -- Periodicals; Chromatin -- Periodicals; DNA -- Periodicals; 572.87
• DOI: 10.2217/epi.14.39
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1750-1911

Abstract

The ten-eleven translocation enzymes catalyze the conversion of 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, a distinct epigenetic mark that has an integral role in active demethylation. Genes that regulate the distribution and amount of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in the genome could be suitable therapeutic targets to correct abnormal methylation in cancer. Here, we present an overview of the role of the 5-hydroxymethylcytosine pathway in human disease and discuss the emergence of innovative techniques that can map the distribution of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine at high resolution. In the context of current epigenetic therapies and by using recent functional studies, we propose plausible mechanisms to target the 5-hydroxymethylcytosine pathway in cancer. As the study of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine is still in its infancy, we provide future perspectives.