Region- and cell type-specific de novo DNA methylation in cultured mammalian cells

• Published in: Somatic cell and molecular genetics Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 151 - 157
• Main Authors: TURKER, M. S, PADMAJA MUMMANENI, BISHOP, P. L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Plenum 01-03-1991; New York, NY
• Subjects: Adenine Phosphoribosyltransferase - genetics; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Southern; Cell Differentiation; Cells, Cultured; DNA - analysis; DNA - metabolism; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes. Genome; Mammals; Methylation; Mice; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Plasmids; Restriction Mapping; Transfection; Upstream sequence; Enzyme; Stem cell; Rodentia; Malignant teratoma; Plasmid; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Cell line; Transfection; Mouse; DNA; Adenine phosphoribosyltransferase; Methylation
• ISSN: 0740-7750; 1572-9931
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01232972

A region upstream of the mouse adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (aprt) gene has a well characterized methylation pattern for HpaII/MspI sites. When an unmethylated plasmid construct containing this region was transfected into P19 mouse teratocarcinoma stem cells appropriate de novo methylation was observed. However, de novo methylation was significantly reduced when this plasmid was introduced into a differentiated derivative of the P19 stem cell line. Finally, a position effect for de novo methylation was shown by demonstrating methylation of a normally unmethylated HpaII/MspI site when it was placed in this upstream region. This system should prove useful for elucidating DNA signals for de novo methylation and changes in DNA methyltransferase activities that occur during cellular differentiation.