Targeted DNA methylation using an artificially bisected M.HhaI fused to zinc fingers.

ABSTRACT: Little is known about the effects of single DNA methylation events on gene transcription. The ability to direct the methylation toward a single unique site within a genome would have broad use as a tool to study the effects of specific epigenetic changes on transcription. A targeted enzyme might also be useful in a therapy for diseases with an epigenetic component or as a means to site-specifically label DNA. Previous studies have sought to target methyltransferase activity by fusing DNA binding proteins to methyltransferases. However, the methyltransferase domain remains active even when the DNA binding protein is unbound, resulting in significant off-target methylation. A better strategy would make methyltransferase activity contingent upon the DNA binding protein's association with its

SUBMITTER: Chaikind B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3439449 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature