Ten-Eleven Translocation (TET) proteins are DNA demethylation enzymes that regulate epigenetic plasticity, gene expression, and cell identity. The mammalian family comprises TET1, TET2, and TET3, which are extensively studied in developmental biology, stem cell research, and cancer epigenetics.
Core Function
TET enzymes sequentially oxidize 5-methylcytosine (5mC) into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine, and 5-carboxycytosine, promoting active DNA demethylation and the restoration of unmethylated cytosine through DNA repair pathways.
Biological Significance
- Epigenetic regulation: Maintain DNA methylation balance and support pluripotency and differentiation.
- Development: Participate in embryogenesis, gametogenesis, immune regulation, learning, and memory.
- Disease relevance: Altered TET activity contributes to hematological malignancies and other epigenetic disorders, making these enzymes valuable biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
- Research applications: Measurement of 5hmC is widely used to evaluate TET-dependent DNA demethylation in stem cell, developmental, and cancer studies.
