Molecular mechanism of 5mC oxidation and its implications on chromatin structure and gene regulation (A08*)

• Subject Area: General Genetics and Functional Genome Biology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 325871075

The consecutive oxidation of 5mC by Tet enzymes results in the formation of 5hmC, 5fC and eventually 5caC. These oxidative cytosine forms (oxCs) play an essential role in DNA demethylation and furthermore, might exhibit distinct regulatory functions. Using third generation sequencing, we conduct a multiomic, i.e., parallel sequencing of 5mC, oxCs, as well as chromatin accessibility at single molecule level. Using these comprehensive datasets, we investigate the precise location and co-occurrence of cytosine modifications in the mammalian genome and furthermore, determine the individual and combined impact of oxCs on chromatin accessibility and gene regulation.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1309: Chemical Biology of Epigenetic Modifications
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Project Head: Dr. Peter Pascal Giehr