Studies on the influence of cytosine methylation on DNA recombination and end-joining in mammalian cells Journal Article


Authors: Liang, F.; Jasin, M.
Article Title: Studies on the influence of cytosine methylation on DNA recombination and end-joining in mammalian cells
Abstract: To test the influence of cytosine methylation on homologous recombination and the rejoining of DNA double strand breaks in mammalian cells, we developed a sensitive and quantitative assay system using extrachromosomal substrates. First, methylation was introduced into substrates in vitro with the prokaryotic SssI methylase, which specifically methylates the C-5 position of cytosine bases within CpG dinucleotides, mimicking the mammalian DNA methyltransferase. Next, methylated substrates were incubated in mammalian cells for a sufficient length of time to recombine or rejoin prior to substrate recovery. Results from bacterial transformation of the substrates and from direct Southern analysis demonstrate that cytosine methylation has no detectable effect on either DNA end-joining or homologous recombination. Thus, the components of the protein machinery involved in these complex processes are unaffected by the major DNA modification in mammalian cells. These results leave open the possibility that methylation may modulate the accessibility of these components to chromosomal DNA by altering local chromatin structure.
Keywords: controlled study; methylation; nonhuman; animal cell; dna recombination; animal; gene; dna repair; cell line; transfection; methyltransferase; dna; double stranded dna; molecular sequence data; genetic transfection; cpg islands; recombination, genetic; base sequence; dna methyltransferase; monkey; genetic techniques; dinucleotide; chromatin structure; southern blotting; cytosine; priority journal; article; support, non-u.s. gov't; support, u.s. gov't, p.h.s.; bacterium transformation; site-specific dna methyltransferase (cytosine-specific)
Journal Title: Journal of Biological Chemistry
Volume: 270
Issue: 40
ISSN: 0021-9258
Publisher: American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology  
Date Published: 1995-10-06
Start Page: 23838
End Page: 23844
Language: English
DOI: 10.1074/jbc.270.40.23838
PUBMED: 7559561
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 28 August 2018 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Maria Jasin
    249 Jasin