Incorporation of 5-chlorocytosine into mammalian DNA results in heritable gene silencing and altered cytosine methylation patterns.

ABSTRACT: Cytosine methylation patterns are essential for the proper control of gene expression in higher vertebrates. Although alterations in methylation patterns are frequently observed in human tumors, neither the mechanisms for establishing methylation patterns during normal development nor the mechanisms leading to pathological alterations of methylation patterns are currently known. While epidemiological studies have implicated inflammation in cancer etiology, a mechanistic link has yet to be established. Investigations of inflammation-mediated DNA damage may have provided important new insights. Our in vitro studies revealed that the inflammation-mediated DNA damage product, 5-chlorocytosine, could direct fraudulent methylation of previously unmethylated CpG sites. The purpose of this study w

SUBMITTER: Lao VV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2675655 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature