Base J: Discovery, Biosynthesis, and Possible Functions

被引:132
作者
Borst, Piet [1 ]
Sabatini, Robert [2 ]
机构
[1] Netherlands Canc Inst, Div Mol Biol, Ctr Biomed Genet, NL-1066 CX Amsterdam, Netherlands
[2] Univ Georgia, Dept Biochem & Mol Biol, Athens, GA 30602 USA
关键词
epigenetics; DTNA hypermodification; antigenic variation; kinetoplastids;
D O I
10.1146/annurev.micro.62.081307.162750
中图分类号
Q93 [微生物学];
学科分类号
071005 ; 100705 ;
摘要
In 1993, a new base, beta-D-glucopyranosyloxymethyluracil (base J), was identified in the nuclear DNA of Trypanosoma brucei. Base J is the first hypermodified base found in eukaryotic DNA. It is present in all kinetoplastid flagellates analyzed and some unicellular flagellates closely related to trypanosomatids, but it has not been found in other protozoa or in metazoa. J is invariably present in the telomeric repeats of all organisms analyzed. Whereas in Leishmania nearly all J is telomeric, there are other repetitive DNA sequences containing J in T brucei and T cruzi, and most J is outside telomeres in Euglena. The biosynthesis of J occurs in two steps: First, a specific thymidine in DNA is converted into hydroxymethyldeoxyuridine (HOMedU), and then this HOMedU is glycosylated to form J. This review discusses the identification and localization of base J in the genome of kinetoplastids, the enzymes involved in J biosynthesis, possible biological functions of J, and J as a potential target for chemotherapy of diseases caused by kinetoplastids.
引用
收藏
页码:235 / 251
页数:17
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