Anti-5-methylcytosine (5-mC) antibody [5MC-CD]

Supplementary info

Activity summary

5-methylcytosine often referred to as 5-mC 5-methyl cytosine or 5-methylcytidine is a methylated form of the nucleobase cytosine found in the DNA of various organisms. This modification typically occurs at the carbon 5 position of the cytosine ring contributing to the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. While the mass of 5-mC itself is relatively small since it is a modified nucleotide its impact on gene regulation is significant. 5-mC is widely expressed in the genome of higher eukaryotes particularly in CpG dinucleotides where it plays a role in mammalian development and cell differentiation.

Biological function summary

Cytosine methylation affects DNA-protein interactions leading to changes in chromatin structure and the regulation of gene activity. 5-methylcytosine is an important player in the chromatin modification complex where it collaborates with other epigenetic marks to control gene expression profiles. This modified nucleotide helps to stabilize gene silencing maintaining the closed chromatin state which inhibits the transcription machinery's access to specific genomic regions. Such silencing is vital during processes like X-chromosome inactivation and imprinting.

Pathways

Researchers have identified 5-mC within two critical pathways: DNA methylation and demethylation cycle and histone modification pathway. In the DNA methylation pathway 5-mC interacts closely with proteins like DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) which directly add methyl groups to cytosine bases. In the context of histone modification 5-mC influences the binding of methyl-CpG-binding domain (MBD) proteins which read and interpret methylated DNA marks affecting histone modification and DNA accessibility.

Associated diseases and disorders

The dysregulation of 5-methylcytosine patterns associates prominently with cancer and neurological disorders. Abnormal methylation patterns where 5-mC is either hypermethylated or hypomethylated can lead to the silencing of tumor suppressor genes or activation of oncogenes forming a basis for cancer development. In neurological disorders altered 5-mC levels link to conditions such as Rett syndrome where the dysfunction of the associated protein MeCP2 an important reader of 5-mC contributes to the disease pathology.