5-(Hydroxymethyl) uracil and -cytosine as potential epigenetic marks enhancing or inhibiting transcription with bacterial RNA polymerase

Abstract

DNA templates containing 5-hydroxymethyluracil or 5-hydroxymethylcytosine were used in an in vitro transcription assay with RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli. A strong enhancement of transcription was observed from DNA containing the Pveg promoter whereas a decrease was observed from DNA containing the rrnB P1 promoter, suggesting that they may act as epigenetic marks.

Keywords

• stem-cell DNA
• gene-expression
• restriction endonucleases
• bacillus-subtilis
• modified base
• 5-hydroxymethyluracil
• 5-formylcytosine
• thymine
• hydroxymethyluracil
• oligonucleotides