Indicator Nucleoside of DNA Methylation

Biological consequences of DNA methylation are indicators of epigenetic effects in plants and animals. 2’-Deoxy-5-methylcytidine, formed by the enzymatic methylation of cytosine residues in CpG (Cytosine-phosphate-Guanine) sites, is a minor component found in most eukaryotic DNA which plays a central role in the regulation of gene expression. Recently, methylation occurring by methyl radicals generated by tumor promoters has been reported.¹⁾ Oxidation of 2’-deoxy-5-methylcytidine has been of interest in connection with the damage of DNA.²⁾ In the detection of DNA methylation levels in cells, the DNA is hydrolyzed to nucleosides and 2’-deoxy-5-methylcytidine is analyzed by HPLC and LC-MS.³⁾