Active DNA demethylation in human postmitotic cells correlates with activating histone modifications, but not transcription levels.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In mammals, the dynamics of DNA methylation, in particular the regulated, active removal of cytosine methylation, has remained a mystery, partly due to the lack of appropriate model systems to study DNA demethylation. Previous work has largely focused on proliferating cell types that are mitotically arrested using pharmacological inhibitors to distinguish between active and passive mechanisms of DNA demethylation.

Results

We explored this epigenetic phenomenon in a natural setting of post-mitotic cells: the differentiation of human peripheral blood monocytes into macrophages or dendritic cells, which proceeds without cell division. Using a global, comparative CpG methylation profiling approach, we identified many novel examples of active DNA demethylation and char

SUBMITTER: Klug M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2911111 | biostudies-literature | 2010

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature