A new hydroxymethylcytocine-like DNA modification linked to gene expression is the predominant cytosine modification in malaria parasites

The study identifies a new hydroxymethylcytocine-like (hmC-like) DNA modification in the genome of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum using several biochemical approaches. The genome-wide distribution of hmC-like was evaluated using an immunoprecipiation approach, hmeDIP-seq. The resulting profile appears to be stably maintained during blood stage development, with gene body hmC-like levels positively correlating with transcript levels, as evaluated by RNA-seq.