Cytosine methylation and hydroxymethylation mark DNA for elimination in Oxytricha trifallax.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cytosine methylation of DNA is conserved across eukaryotes and plays important functional roles regulating gene expression during differentiation and development in animals, plants and fungi. Hydroxymethylation was recently identified as another epigenetic modification marking genes important for pluripotency in embryonic stem cells.

Results

Here we describe de novo cytosine methylation and hydroxymethylation in the ciliate Oxytricha trifallax. These DNA modifications occur only during nuclear development and programmed genome rearrangement. We detect methylcytosine and hydroxymethylcytosine directly by high-resolution nano-flow UPLC mass spectrometry, and indirectly by immunofluorescence, methyl-DNA immunoprecipitation and bisulfite sequencing. We describe these

SUBMITTER: Bracht JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3491425 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature