DNA methylation and chromatin structure

FEBS Letters

Bird, Adrian¹  Lewis, Joe¹ 

[1] Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, UK

关键词: DNA methylation;    5-Methyl cytosine;    Chromatin;    Heterochromatin;    Methyl-CpG binding protein;    CpG islands;   

DOI  :  10.1016/0014-5793(91)80795-5

学科分类：生物化学/生物物理

来源: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

【 摘 要 】

Studies of the whole genome by molecular and cytogenetic methods have implicated DNA methylation in the formation of ‘inactive chromatin’. This has been confirmed by analysis of specific endogenous sequences, and has been mimicked by introducing methylated and non-methylated sequences into cells. As well as affecting chromatin structure, DNA methylation also represses transcription. A protein (MeCP) which binds specifically to methylated DNA has been identified, The properties of MeCP could account for the effects of DNA methylation on both chromatin and transcription.

【 授权许可】

Unknown