5-Methylcytosine

5-Methylcytosine is a nucleic acid that is found in the DNA and RNA of the cell. It is an important component of methylation, which is the process by which a methyl group is added to a molecule. This process can lead to cellular transformation, a process that can cause cancer. 5-Methylcytosine has also been shown as a molecular pathogenesis factor in infectious diseases such as HIV and herpes simplex virus type 1. The presence of 5-methylcytosine in nuclear DNA has been detected by analytical techniques such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). There are many analytical methods, including GC/MS, that can be used to detect 5-methylcytosine in cellular nuclei.