DNA Editing by APOBECs: A Genomic Preserver and Transformer

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• 作者：Binyamin A. Knisbacher¹ ; Doron Gerber¹ ; Erez Y. Levanon¹ ; ^{erez.levanon@biu.ac.il" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author}
• 关键词：AID ; APOBEC ; retrotransposons ; DNA editing ; C-to-U editing ; genome evolution
• 刊名：Trends in Genetics
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：January 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：32
• 期：1
• 页码：16-28
• 全文大小：2004 K

文摘

Information warfare is not limited to the cyber world because it is waged within our cells as well. The unique AID (activation-induced cytidine deaminase)/APOBEC (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide) family comprises proteins that alter DNA sequences by converting deoxycytidines to deoxyuridines through deamination. This C-to-U DNA editing enables them to inhibit parasitic viruses and retrotransposons by disrupting their genomic content. In addition to attacking genomic invaders, APOBECs can target their host genome, which can be beneficial by initiating processes that create antibody diversity needed for the immune system or by accelerating the rate of evolution. AID can also alter gene regulation by removing epigenetic modifications from genomic DNA. However, when uncontrolled, these powerful agents of change can threaten genome stability and eventually lead to cancer.