# Epigenetic regulations of DNA and histone methylation and deMethylation: Structures and Mechanisms

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2020 · $584,820

## Abstract

Summary/Abstract
The control of gene expression in mammals relies in part on modifications to cytosine residues in DNA, which
exist in at least five forms: cytosine (C), 5-methylcytosine (5mC), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-
formylcytosine (5fC) and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC). DNA methyltransferases methylate cytosine at the 5-
position, generating 5mC in the genome. Ten-eleven translocation (Tet) dioxygenases convert 5mC to 5hmC,
5fC, and 5caC in three consecutive oxidation reactions. These modifications are dynamically regulated during
development and cell differentiation. To understand the function of these modifications and the regulatory
mechanisms that control the levels and genomic distribution of the five forms of the cytosine, we propose to
study the enzymes/proteins that generate, read, and remove these DNA modifications as well as associated
histone methylation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9848165
- **Project number:** 1R35GM134744-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Xiaodong Cheng
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $584,820
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-01-01 → 2024-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9848165

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9848165, Epigenetic regulations of DNA and histone methylation and deMethylation: Structures and Mechanisms (1R35GM134744-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9848165. Licensed CC0.

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