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The Escherichia coli chromosome contains specific, unmethylated dam and dcm sites.

The Escherichia coli chromosome encodes two methylases, dam and dcm, which recognize the sequences GATC and CC(A/T)GG, respectively. Specific dam and dcm sites on the E. coli chromosome were found to be unmethylated in vivo by using pulsed-filed gel electrophoresis experiments scanning megabase regions of DNA. Some sites were totally unmethylated. The dam sites display variable methylation depending on the local sequence, and, in general, their methylation shows complex modulation by growth conditions and growth rate, suggesting multiple protection mechanisms. Sites resistant to complete dam or dcm methylation appear to be distributed throughout the chromosome. These unusual sites may identify regions of the chromosome with interesting biological functions.

Base Sequence

High plasticity of multispecific DNA methyltransferases in the region carrying DNA target recognizing enzyme modules.

Multispecific cytosine C5 DNA methyltransferases (MTases) methylate more than one specific DNA target. This is due to the presence of several target recognizing domains (TRDs) in these enzymes. Such TRDs form part of a variable centre in the MTase primary sequence, which separates conserved enzyme core sequences responsible for general steps in the methylation reaction. By deleting, rearranging and exchanging several TRDs of multispecific MTases, we demonstrate their modular character; they mediate target recognition independent of a particular TRD or core sequence context. We show also that multispecific MTases can accommodate inert material of non-MTase origin within their variable region without losing their activity. The remarkable plasticity with respect to the material that can be integrated into this region suggests that the enzyme core sequences preceding or following it form separable functional domains. In spite of the documented flexibility multispecific MTases could not be endowed with novel specificities by integration of putative TRDs of monospecific MTases, pointing to differences between multi- and monospecific MTases in the way their core and TRD sequences interact.

Base Sequence

Biological function of DNA methylation.

Structural and functional properties of prokaryotic DNA methyltransferases are summarized. The different aspects of the role of DNA methylation which influences DNA-protein interaction in restriction and modification of DNA and in mismatch repair, DNA replication and gene expression are discussed.

Bacteria

Transcription of methylated viral DNA by eukaryotic RNA polymerase II.

The genome of the large icosahedral DNA virus, frog virus 3 (FV3), is heavily methylated at the cytosine residues of dCdG dinucleotide pairs, with more than 22% of the total cytosine residues in the form of 5-methylcytosine (5mC). This methylation is carried out postreplicatively in the cytoplasm of infected cells by a virus-encoded DNA methyltransferase. DNA methyltransferase activity was shown to copurify with a 26 kD virus-induced, DNA-binding protein that had an altered mobility in extracts from cells infected with a DNA-methyl-transferase deficient mutant of FV3. Immediately after infection, the highly methylated parental DNA is transcribed in the nucleus by the host cell RNA polymerase II. As FV3 induces the synthesis of a protein that can override the inhibitory effect of methylation on the transcription of exogenous promoters methylation in vitro, we suggest that this protein is a factor evolved by this virus to allow transcription from methylated promoters by eukaryotic RNA polymerase II.

Animals

Circadian variation in MGMT promoter methylation and expression predicts sensitivity to temozolomide in glioblastoma.

PURPOSE: Recent studies show that glioblastoma (GBM) is more sensitive to temozolomide (TMZ) in the morning. In cells, inhibiting O6-Methylguanine-DNA-Methyltransferase (MGMT) abolished time-dependent TMZ efficacy, suggesting that circadian regulation of this DNA repair enzyme underlies daily TMZ sensitivity. Here, we tested the hypotheses that MGMT promoter methylation and protein abundance vary with time-of-day in GBM, resulting in daily rhythms in TMZ efficacy. METHODS: We assessed daily rhythms in MGMT promoter methylation in GBM in vitro and retrospectively analyzed MGMT methylation status in human GBM biopsies collected at different times of day. Next, we measured MGMT and BMAL1 protein abundances in GBM cells collected at four-hour intervals. To understand the therapeutic implications of circadian variations in MGMT, we incorporated its daily rhythms into an in vitro mathematical model capturing interactions between MGMT, TMZ, and GBM DNA. RESULTS: We found daily rhythms in MGMT promoter methylation and protein levels in GBM in vitro, and in patient biopsies peaking at midday. Further, MGMT protein levels peaked at CT4, corresponding to the time of maximal TMZ efficacy in vitro. When we incorporated cell-intrinsic circadian rhythms in MGMT protein into a mathematical model for GBM chemotherapy, we found that dosing when daily MGMT levels peaked and began to decline produced maximum DNA damage. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the likelihood of diagnosis of MGMT promoter methylation may vary with time of biopsy in GBM. Furthermore, theoretical modeling predicts that efforts to deliver TMZ after the daily peak of MGMT activity, with exact time being dose-dependent, may significantly enhance its therapeutic efficacy.

Humans

Evolution of type II DNA methyltransferases. A gene duplication model.

On the basis of consensus sequences, which had previously been defined for two groups of closely related cytosine-specific and adenine-specific DNA methyltransferases, homologies can be detected that indicate a common origin for these proteins. Intramolecular comparisons of several of these enzymes reveal homology relationships, which suggests that gene duplication is a phylogenetic principle in the evolution of the Mtases. One or two duplications of an ancestral gene encoding a 12,000 to 16,000 Mr protein, followed by divergent evolution, may have led to very different protein structures and could explain the differences in amino acid sequences, molecular weights and biochemical properties. Intermolecular and intramolecular homologies were also recognized in type II restriction endonucleases, suggesting a very similar evolutionary pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence

Histones and DNA methylation in mammalian chromatin. Differential inhibition by histone H1.

Histones (from calf thymus or from human placenta), if renatured in the presence of EDTA, caused a severe inhibition of in vitro methylation of double-stranded DNA (from Micrococcus luteus) by human placenta DNA methyltransferase. The absence of EDTA during the histone renaturation procedure abolished--at least in the 'physiological' range of the histones/DNA ratio--the inhibition. The H1 component was responsible for this inhibition, no effect being exerted by the other histones. H1 preparations were more effective if renatured in the presence of EDTA--90% inhibition being reached at a 0.3:1 (w/w) H1/DNA ratio. It seems likely that the requirement for the presence of EDTA during the renaturation process is correlated to its ability to induce a fairly stable ordered conformation of the histones, although this effect could also be shown with the 'inactive' H2a, H2b and H3 components, and was instead less evident with histone H1. The restriction to histone H1 of the ability to inhibit enzymic DNA methylation may account for the lower methylation levels present in the internucleosomal DNA of mammalian chromatin.

Animals

Cloning type-II restriction and modification genes.

We have cloned into Escherichia coli the genes for 38 type-II bacterial modification methyltransferases. The clones were isolated by selecting in vitro for protectively modified recombinants. Most of the clones modify their DNA fully but a substantial number modify only partially. In approximately one-half of the clones, the genes for the corresponding endonucleases are also present. Some of these clones restrict infecting phages and others do not. Clones carrying endonuclease genes but lacking methyltransferase genes have been found, in several instances, to be viable.

Bacterial Proteins

DNA methylation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and other Neisseriae.

It has been reported in the literature that Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA is modified by the methyltransferases (MTases) M.NgoI, M.NgoII, and M.NgoIII, as well as three other cytosine MTases and one adenine MTase, even if the corresponding restriction endonucleases are not present. We envisioned the possibility of cloning one of the N. gonorrhoeae MTase-encoding genes for use as a species-specific DNA probe. We therefore undertook a survey of methylation patterns of several clinical isolates of N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis as well as ATCC strains of other Neisseriae. We found, from digestion patterns with isoschizomers, one N. gonorrhoeae strain that lacked M.NgoII and two that lacked M.NgoIII. All N. meningitidis strains (save one) were resistant to digestion with NlaIV thus possessing an MTase like NgoV, and one was resistant to SstII, thus having an NgoIII-like MTase. None were resistant to isoschizomers of NgoI, NgoIII and NgoIV. Some other Neisseriae had an MTase with NlaIV (NgoV) specificity, but none had NgoI, II, III or IV specificity, except for the Branhamella-like N. caviae-ovis group and N. lactamica where these specificities were present in at least one strain of this group. Therefore, among the Neisseriae other than N. caviae only M.NgoI is N. gonorrhoeae-specific.

DNA Modification Methylases

Specificity of restriction endonucleases and DNA modification methyltransferases a review (Edition 3).

The properties and sources of all known class-I, class-II and class-III restriction endonucleases (ENases) and DNA modification methyltransferases (MTases) are listed and newly subclassified according to their sequence specificity. In addition, the enzymes are distinguished in a novel manner according to sequence specificity, cleavage position and methylation sensitivity. Furthermore, new nomenclature rules are proposed for unambiguously defined enzyme names. In the various Tables, the enzymes are cross-indexed alphabetically according to their names (Table I), classified according to their recognition sequence homologies (Table II), and characterized within Table II by the cleavage and methylation positions, the number of recognition sites on the DNA of the bacteriophages lambda, phi X174, and M13mp7, the viruses Ad2 and SV40, the plasmids pBR322 and pBR328, and the microorganisms from which they originate. Other tabulated properties of the ENases include relaxed specificities (integrated within Table II), the structure of the generated fragment ends (Table III), interconversion of restriction sites (Table IV) and the sensitivity to different kinds of DNA methylation (Table V). Table VI shows the influence of class-II MTases on the activity of class-II ENases with at least partially overlapping recognition sequences. Table VII lists all class-II restriction endonucleases and MTases which are commercially available. The information given in Table V focuses on the influence of methylation of the recognition sequences on the activity of ENases. This information might be useful for the design of cloning experiments especially in Escherichia coli containing M.EcodamI and M.EcodcmI [H16, M21, U3] or for studying the level and distribution of site-specific methylation in cellular DNA, e.g., 5'- (M)CpG-3' in mammals, 5'-(M)CpNpG-3' in plants or 5'-GpA(M)pTpC-3' in enterobacteria [B29, E4, M30, V4, V13, W24]. In Table IV a cross index for the interconversion of two- and four-nt 5'-protruding ends into new recognition sequences is complied. This was obtained by the fill-in reaction with the Klenow (large) fragment of the E. coli DNA polymerase I (PolIk), or additional nuclease S1 treatment followed by ligation of the modified fragment termini [P3]. Interconversion of restriction sites generates novel cloning sites without the need of linkers. This should improve the flexibility of genetic engineering experiments [K56, P3].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals

Cloning the BstVI restriction-modification system in Escherichia coli.

A standard DNA modification methyltransferase (MTase) selection protocol was followed to clone the BstVI restriction and modification system from Bacillus stearothermophilus in Escherichia coli. Both genes were contained in a 4.4-kb EcoRI fragment from B. stearothermophilus V chromosomal DNA. The heterologous expression of these genes did not depend on their orientation in the vector, suggesting that the genes are expressed in E. coli under the control of promoters located on the cloned fragment. Subcloning experiments demonstrated that the bstVIR gene was expressed in the absence of its cognate MTase.

Cloning, Molecular

Cloning, sequence and characterization of m5C-methyltransferase-encoding gene, hgiDIIM (GTCGAC), from Herpetosiphon giganteus strain Hpa2.

We have cloned the gene (hgiDIIM) encoding the methyltransferase (MTase) of the SalI isoschizomeric restriction-modification (R-M) system, HgiDII (GTCGAC), into Escherichia coli. The hgiDIIM gene has been isolated from the same plasmid library of Herpetosiphon giganteus strain Hpa2, as was the previously cloned R-M system, HgiDI [AcyI/GRCGYC; Düsterhöft et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 19 (1991) 1049-1056]. Sequencing and functional localization of hgiDIIM revealed an open reading frame (ORF) of 354 codons (39786 Da) with significant homologies to the group of m5C-, rather than the m4C-/m6A-, MTases. Subsequent cloning and analysis of adjacent chromosomal segments led to the identification of two additional ORFs upstream (ORF15, 139 codons) and downstream (ORF68, 611 codons) from hgiDIIM with the same transcriptional orientation as the hgiDIIM gene. However, the expected restriction enzyme function was not found in either of these ORFs.

Amino Acid Sequence

Expression and cloning of complementary DNA for a human enzyme that repairs O6-methylguanine in DNA.

A cell line with an increased resistance to alkylating agents and an extremely high level of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase activity was isolated after transfection of methyltransferase-deficient Mer- cells with a cDNA library, prepared from methyltransferase-proficient human Mer+ (Raji) cells. Sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that a protein, with a molecular weight of approximately 25,000, accepted 3H label from DNA that had been treated with [3H]methylnitrosourea. Since the cDNA for methyltransferase was integrated into the chromosomal DNA, it was recovered by using the polymerase chain reaction. When the cDNA placed in an expression vector p500 was introduced into Mer- cells, the cells acquired an increased resistance to alkylating agents and exhibited a high level of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase activity. From the transformants the cDNA could be recovered as a part of the autonomously replicating plasmid. The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA was determined, and an open reading frame comprising 207 amino acid residues was found. The molecular weight of methyltransferase, calculated from the predicted amino acid sequence, was 21,700. The predicted amino acid sequence of the human methyltransferase exhibits an intensive homology with those of the bacterial counterparts, Ada and Ogt proteins of Escherichia coli and Dat protein of Bacillus subtilis, especially around possible methyl acceptor sites.

Base Sequence