Cancer epitranscriptomics in a nutshell.

Remarkable technological progress has led to breakthrough discoveries in epitranscriptomics, reshaping our understanding of modifications decorating RNA. The past decade has seen a tremendous endeavor to describe the nature, functions, and biological roles of messenger RNA (mRNA) modifications, positioning epitranscriptomics as a crucial pillar in tumor biology. Like DNA and histone modifications, mRNA marks have been increasingly linked to cancer pathogenesis.

Functional role of Tet-mediated RNA hydroxymethylcytosine in mouse ES cells and during differentiation.

Tet-enzyme-mediated 5-hydroxymethylation of cytosines in DNA plays a crucial role in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). In RNA also, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) has recently been evidenced, but its physiological roles are still largely unknown. Here we show the contribution and function of this mark in mouse ESCs and differentiating embryoid bodies.

A molecular roadmap for the emergence of early-embryonic-like cells in culture.

Unlike pluripotent cells, which generate only embryonic tissues, totipotent cells can generate a full organism, including extra-embryonic tissues. A rare population of cells resembling 2-cell-stage embryos arises in pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cell cultures. These 2-cell-like cells display molecular features of totipotency and broader developmental plasticity.