AID/APOBEC deaminases, which convert cytosine bases to uracils in DNA and RNA, have recently been assigned a role in epigenetic regulation as components of DNA demethylation pathways. A systematic study shows that AID/APOBEC enzymes preferentially deaminate unmodified cytosine over its C5-modified forms, calling into question the plausibility of deaminase-mediated DNA demethylation pathways.
- Christopher S Nabel
- Huijue Jia
- Rahul M Kohli