The term epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the genomic DNA sequence. Many researchers may be familiar with the mechanisms of DNA methylation and histone modification but research is emerging on RNA polynucleotides that are involved in epigenetic modification and gene expression.
This note introduces the upsurge in RNA research and explores RNA transformations that affect the presence of 5-methylcytidine (m5C) on RNA. In addition, the note examines a publication on the underlying mechanism of cytosine methylation in eliminating the tumor suppressor function of miRNA in a glioblastoma cell line.