Genetic and Epigenetic Biomarkers Related to 2-Oxoglutarate/Fe(II)-Dependent Oxygenases and Implications for Disease and Toxicology

Biomarkers are important in investigating relationships among human biology, disease, environmental exposure, and toxicology. Genetic and epigenetic biomarkers, particularly the alkylated DNA and RNA, widely exist in cells and tissues and have attracted great attention on biomarker formation and regulation processes and their potential applications in the early detection of diseases. The present chapter primarily focuses on the biochemical and genetic properties of alkylated DNA/RNA biomarkers specifically related to the 2-OG/Fe(II)-dependent oxygenases, including AlkB family dioxygenases (such as E. coli AlkB and its mammalian homologs ALKBH1–8 and FTO) and mammalian TET (TET1–3)/JBP (JBP1 and 2) family proteins, and the implications of these markers to disease and toxicology. In addition, spectroscopic and computational studies have been carried out in line with biochemical studies on the 2-OG/Fe(II)-dependent oxygenases and nucleic acid biomarkers, providing further insights into their mechanisms of action.