Invitrogen™ 5-hydroxymethylcytosine Monoclonal Antibody (3I7)

5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) has been recently discovered in mammalian DNA. 5-hmC results from the enzymatic conversion of 5-methylcytosine into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine by the TET family of oxygenases. Initially, the 5-hmC base had been identified in Purkinje neurons, in granule cells and embryonic stem cells where it is present at high levels (up to 0,6% of total nucleotides in Purkinje cells). A recent report indicates that 5-hmC is also abundant in brain tissue, especially in areas that are associated with higher cognitive functions.Early evidence suggests that 5-hmC may represent an intermediate in a new pathway which demethylates DNA, converting 5-mC to cytosine. Although its precise role has still to be shown, recent results indicate, however, that 5-hmC may play important roles distinct from 5-mC. This may open up entirely new perspectives in epigenetic studies.