X-ray crystallographic analysis of thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) in complex with DNA containing 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC) analogs reveals that 5caC is a preferred substrate of TDG, providing support for a 5-methylcytosine demethylation pathway involving 5-methylcytosine oxidation and removal by base-excision repair glycosylases.
- Liang Zhang
- Xingyu Lu
- Chuan He