AUTHOR=Ramsawhook Ashley , Ruzov Alexey , Coyle Beth 

TITLE=Wilms' Tumor Protein 1 and Enzymatic Oxidation of 5-Methylcytosine in Brain Tumors: Potential Perspectives

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

VOLUME=Volume 6 - 2018

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2018.00026

DOI=10.3389/fcell.2018.00026

ISSN=2296-634X

ABSTRACT=The patterns of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and its oxidised derivatives, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, 5-formylcytosine and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC) are reportedly altered in a range of cancers. Likewise, Wilms’ Tumour protein 1 (WT1), a transcription factor essential for urogenital, epicardium and kidney development exhibits aberrant expression in multiple tumours. Interestingly, WT1 directly interacts with TET proteins that catalyse the enzymatic oxidation of 5mC and exhibits high affinity for 5caC-containing DNA substrates in vitro. Here we review recent developments in the fields of Tet-dependent 5mC oxidation and WT1 biology and explore potential perspectives for studying the interplay between TETs and WT1 in brain tumours.