DNA methylation and differentiation

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8980189· OSTI ID:5547941

Michalowky, L A; Jones, P A ^[1]

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1. USC Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA (USA)

The methylation of specific cytosine residues in DNA has been implicated in regulating gene expression and facilitating functional specialization of cellular phenotypes. Generally, the demethylation of certain CpG sites correlates with transcriptional activation of genes. 5-Azacytidine is an inhibitor of DNA methylation and has been widely used as a potent activator of suppressed genetic information. Treatment of cells with 5-azacytidine results in profound phenotypic alterations. The drug-induced hypomethylation of DNA apparently perturbs DNA-protein interactions that may consequently alter transcriptional activity and cell determination. The inhibitory effect of cytosine methylation may be exerted via altered DNA-protein interactions specifically or may be transduced by a change in the conformation of chromatin. Recent studies have demonstrated that cytosine methylation also plays a central role in parental imprinting, which in turn determines the differential expression of maternal and paternal genomes during embryogenesis. In other words, methylation is the mechanism whereby the embryo retains memory of the gametic origin of each component of genetic information. A memory of this type would probably persist during DNA replication and cell division as methylation patterns are stable and heritable.

• OSTI ID: 5547941
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA), Vol. 80; ISSN 0091-6765
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
GENE REGULATION
DNA
METHYLATION
ANTIMETABOLITES
CYTOSINE
ENZYME INDUCTION
PHENOTYPE
TRANSCRIPTION
VIRUSES
X CHROMOSOME
AMINES
AZINES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMOSOMES
DRUGS
HETEROCHROMOSOMES
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARASITES
PYRIMIDINES
550200* - Biochemistry