Breathing-in epigenetic change with vitamin C

EMBO Rep. 2013 Apr;14(4):337-46. doi: 10.1038/embor.2013.29. Epub 2013 Mar 15.

Abstract

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that maintains the activity of iron and α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases. Despite these enzymes being implicated in a wide range of biological pathways, vitamin C is rarely included in common cell culture media. Recent studies show that reprogramming of pluripotent stem cells is enhanced when vitamin C is present, thereby illustrating previous limitations in reprogramming cultures. Here, we summarize understanding of dioxygenase function in reprogramming and epigenetic regulation. The available data suggest a link between dioxygenase function and stem cell differentiation, which is exposed to environmental influence and is relevant for human disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / physiology*
  • Ascorbic Acid / physiology*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • DNA Methylation
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Dioxygenases / physiology
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Histone Demethylases / physiology
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / enzymology
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Dioxygenases
  • TET2 protein, human
  • Histone Demethylases
  • Ascorbic Acid