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Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Detection of Modified Forms of Cytosine Using Sensitive Immunohistochemistry
Published on: August 16, 2016
Tet-mediated formation of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in RNA
Lijuan Fu1, Candace R Guerrero, Na Zhong
1Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program and ‡Department of Chemistry, University of California , Riverside, California 92521, United States.
Abstract:
Oxidation of 5-methylcytosine in DNA by ten-eleven translocation (Tet) family of enzymes has been demonstrated to play a significant role in epigenetic regulation in mammals. We found that Tet enzymes also possess the activity of catalyzing the formation of 5-hydroxymethylcytidine (5-hmrC) in RNA in vitro. In addition, the catalytic domains of all three Tet enzymes as well as full-length Tet3 could induce the formation of 5-hmrC in human cells. Moreover, 5-hmrC was present at appreciable levels (∼1 per 5000 5-methylcytidine) in RNA of mammalian cells and tissues. Our results suggest the involvement of this oxidation in RNA biology.
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