Toxicological Sciences, Vol 49, 255-262, Copyright © 1999 by Society of Toxicology
PS Samiec and JI Goodman
DNA methylation (DNA-5-methylcytosine [MeC]) plays a key role in regulation
of gene expression. Highly methylated genes tend to be silenced whereas
hypomethylated genes have an increased potential for expression. One way in
which methylation may lead to inhibition of transcription is by permitting
the binding of methylated DNA-binding proteins, which then block access of
transcription factors to DNA. A particular methylated DNA-binding protein,
MDBP-1, has been identified in nuclear extracts prepared from various human
and rat tissues, and binds in a sequence-specific manner to DNA containing
methylated cytosines (P. C. Supakar et al., 1988, Nucleic Acids Res. 16,
8029- 8044). In the current study, an electrophoretic mobility shift assay
(EMSA) was employed to assess the presence of MDBP-1 in protein isolated
from mouse liver and to examine characteristics of its binding to DNA. The
ligand used in our EMSA was a 32P-end-labeled, double- stranded,
symmetrically methylated oligonucleotide containing the protein's binding
site, 5'-CTAGATMGT-CAMGGMGAT-3' (M denotes 5-methyl- cytosine). Utilizing
protein extracted from B6C3F1 mouse liver, we observed a complex that is
competed by non-labeled, double-stranded, fully methylated ligand but not
by an excess of a 26-mer, double- stranded oligonucleotide containing the
binding site for AP-1. No complex was formed when a nonmethylated,
double-stranded ligand, or our single-stranded ligands (methylated or
unmethylated) were used as EMSA ligands. Complex formation was observed
utilizing double-stranded, hemimethylated ligands; however, the affinity of
MDBP-1 for these was one-tenth the affinity of MDBP-1 for fully methylated,
double-stranded ligand. Additionally, protein isolated from C57BL/6 and
C3H/He mouse liver was found to bind specifically to fully methylated
ligand and hemimethylated ligands for MDBP-1, with similar characteristics
as the binding of B6C3F1 mouse liver protein. These results indicate that
MDBP- 1 is present in mouse liver, and that the degree of methylation
determines the strength of binding of MDBP-1 to DNA.
ARTICLES
Evaluation of methylated DNA binding protein-1 in mouse liver
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, USA.
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
J I Goodman Response to "Epigenetic Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis" by Kamendunlis JE, Kamendulis LM and Xu Y Human and Experimental Toxicology, October 1, 2000; 19(10): 563 - 565. [PDF] |
||||
