This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bolden, A H Articles by Weissbach, A Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bolden, A H Articles by Weissbach, A

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Mol Cell Biol. 1986 April; 6(4): 1135-1140

Primary DNA sequence determines sites of maintenance and de novo methylation by mammalian DNA methyltransferases.

ABSTRACT

Analysis of the enzymatic methylation of oligodeoxynucleotides containing multiple C-G groups showed that hemimethylated sites in duplex oligomers are not significantly methylated by human or murine DNA methyltransferase unless those sites are capable of being methylated de novo in the single- or double-stranded oligomers. Thus, the primary sequence of the target strand, rather than the methylation pattern of the complementary strand, determines maintenance methylation. This suggests that de novo and maintenance methylation are the same process catalyzed by the same enzyme. In addition, the study revealed that complementary strands of oligodeoxynucleotides are methylated at different rates and in different patterns. Both primary DNA sequence and the spacing between C-G groups seem important since in one case studied, maximal methylation required a specific spacing of 13 to 17 nucleotides between C-G pairs.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Yates, P. A., Burman, R. W., Mummaneni, P., Krussel, S., Turker, M. S. (1999). Tandem B1 Elements Located in a Mouse Methylation Center Provide a Target for de Novo DNA Methylation. J. Biol. Chem. 274: 36357-36361 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wong, D. J., Foster, S. A., Galloway, D. A., Reid, B. J. (1999). Progressive Region-Specific De Novo Methylation of the p16 CpG Island in Primary Human Mammary Epithelial Cell Strains during Escape from M0 Growth Arrest. Mol. Cell. Biol. 19: 5642-5651 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Bigey, P., Knox, J. D., Croteau, S., Bhattacharya, S. K., Theberge, J., Szyf, M. (1999). Modified Oligonucleotides as Bona Fide Antagonists of Proteins Interacting with DNA. HAIRPIN ANTAGONISTS OF THE HUMAN DNA METHYLTRANSFERASE. J. Biol. Chem. 274: 4594-4606 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Falk, K. I., Szekely, L., Aleman, A., Ernberg, I. (1998). Specific Methylation Patterns in Two Control Regions of Epstein-Barr Virus Latency: the LMP-1-Coding Upstream Regulatory Region and an Origin of DNA Replication (oriP). J. Virol. 72: 2969-2974 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Tollefsbol, T. O., Hutchison, C. A. , III (1995). Mammalian DNA (Cytosine-5-)-methyltransferase Expressed in Escherichia coli, Purified and Characterized. J. Biol. Chem. 270: 18543-18550 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Pfeifer, G P, Tanguay, R L, Steigerwald, S D, Riggs, A D (1990). In vivo footprint and methylation analysis by PCR-aided genomic sequencing: comparison of active and inactive X chromosomal DNA at the CpG island and promoter of human PGK-1.. Genes Dev. 4: 1277-1287 [Abstract]