At the Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, a research project funded by the Research Council of Lithuania (LMT) titled “Deciphering the Demethylation Pathways of Naturally Modified Heterocyclic Bases” has been launched.
 

Modified nucleosides are chemical modifications of standard nucleosides found in RNA and DNA. They play an important role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression, in the development of diseases such as cancer, and in the emergence of antibiotic resistance in microorganisms. Some of these modifications are used to improve the effectiveness of next-generation mRNA vaccines. While the formation of modified nucleosides in nucleic acids is well studied, much less is known about how they are degraded and how the resulting nucleotides, nucleosides, and heterocyclic bases are returned to metabolism.
 

This project will investigate methylated heterocyclic bases and search for the enzymes and corresponding genes responsible for their demodification. The identified enzymes will be characterized and applied in the chemoenzymatic synthesis of antiviral, antifungal, and anticancer compounds.
 

The project is carried out by Professors J. Urbonavičius and D. Tauraitė, Associate Professor S. Biyada, and master’s student I. Petkevičiūtė. In addition to the planned research activities, the project will also support the preparation of bachelor’s and master’s theses.