A DNA adenine methyltransferase of Escherichia coli that is cell cycle regulated and essential for viability.

ABSTRACT: DNA sequence analysis revealed that the putative yhdJ DNA methyltransferase gene of Escherichia coli is 55% identical to the Nostoc sp. strain PCC7120 gene encoding DNA methyltransferase AvaIII, which methylates adenine in the recognition sequence, ATGCAT. The yhdJ gene was cloned, and the enzyme was overexpressed and purified. Methylation and restriction analysis showed that the DNA methyltransferase methylates the first adenine in the sequence ATGCAT. This DNA methylation was found to be regulated during the cell cycle, and the DNA adenine methyltransferase was designated M.EcoKCcrM (for "cell cycle-regulated methyltransferase"). The CcrM DNA adenine methyltransferase is required for viability in E. coli, as a strain lacking a functional genomic copy of ccrM can be isolated only in the p

SUBMITTER: Kossykh VG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC374390 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature