A comprehensive analysis of the effects of the deaminase AID on the transcriptome and methylome of activated B cells.

Beyond its well-characterized functions in antibody diversification, the cytidine deaminase AID can catalyze off-target DNA damage and has been hypothesized to edit RNA and mediate DNA demethylation. To comprehensively examine the effects of AID on the transcriptome and the pattern of DNA methylation ('methylome'), we analyzed AID-deficient (Aicda(-/-)), wild-type and AID-overexpressing activated B cells by high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and reduced-representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). These analyses confirmed the known role of AID in immunoglobulin isotype switching and also demonstrated few other effects of AID on gene expression. Additionally, we detected no evidence of AID-dependent editing of mRNA or microRNA. Finally, the RRBS data did not support the proposed role for AID in regulating DNA methylation. Thus, despite evidence of its additional activities in other systems, antibody diversification seems to be the sole physiological function of AID in activated B cells.

Cytidine deaminases: AIDing DNA demethylation?

The presence of 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) in DNA is a vital epigenetic mark in vertebrates. While the enzymes responsible for methylating DNA in vertebrates have been identified, the means by which this mark can be removed are still unclear. Recently, it has been shown that activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) contributes to the demethylation of DNA in certain systems. This enzyme has been intensely studied in its role as a key driver of antibody diversification in B cells, but recent observations from early development in zebrafish and mice as well as heterokaryons point to a role beyond immunology. This review takes stock of the reports linking AID and related deaminases to DNA demethylation, and describes the many important questions left to be answered in this field.