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Techniques used in studies of age-related DNA methylation changes.

Epigenetic modification of CpG islands (CGIs) in promoter regions is an important regulatory mechanism of gene expression in eukaryotic cells. Hypermethylation of CGIs may silence a gene, whereas hypomethylation of previously methylated CGIs allows gene expression. The pattern of methylation is cell-type-specific and established during development of the organisms. Changes in the methylation pattern have been found in all cancer forms and in aging cells. The epigenetic-related alternations of gene expression status may significantly contribute to the initiation and maintenance of malignant growth. Cancer incidence increases dramatically with age and correlates strongly with age-related methylation changes. Many techniques have been developed to analyze the genome-wide methylation content and the methylation status of specific loci. The majority of methylation screening protocols utilizes methylation-sensitive endonuclease digestion or bisulfite treatment of the template followed by subsequent PCR amplification of a specific sequence. All methods either examine only one specific DNA sequence at a time, or provide limited genomic information on the screened sequences. The principle of our new approach is to combine methylation-sensitive enzyme digestion with the comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) technique to develop an array-based method to screen the entire genome for changes of methylation pattern. The new technique will serve as an efficient tool in understanding the nature of epigenetic changes and their significance to the aging process and cancer development.

CpG Islands↗

Mutagenesis of a nucleotide-binding site of an anion-translocating ATPase.

The ars operon of the conjugative R-factor R773 confers resistance to arsenicals by coding for an anion pump for extrusion of arsenicals from cells of Escherichia coli. The operon encodes three structural genes arsA, arsB, and arsC. The anion pump requires only two polypeptides, the ArsA and ArsB proteins. Purified ArsA protein exhibits oxyanion-stimulated ATPase activity and was demonstrated to bind ATP by photoaffinity labeling with [alpha-32P]ATP. Analysis of the amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the arsA gene suggests that the ArsA protein contains two potential nucleotide binding folds, one in the N-terminal half and one in the C-terminal half of the protein. A combination of site-directed and bisulfite mutagenesis was used to alter the glycine-rich region of the N-terminal putative nucleotide-binding sequence G15KGGVGKTS23. Four mutant proteins (G18----D, G18----R, G20----S, and T22----I) were analyzed. Strains bearing the mutated plasmids were all arsenite sensitive and were unable to extrude arsenite. Each purified mutant protein lacked oxyanion-stimulated ATPase activity and ATP binding. These results suggest that the N-terminal sequence is part of a nucleotide-binding domain required for catalysis.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Profiling DNA methylation by melting analysis.

The idea of modifying DNA with bisulfite has paved the way for a variety of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods for accurately mapping 5-methylcytosine at specific genes. Bisulfite selectively deaminates cytosine to uracil under conditions where 5-methylcytosine remains unreacted. Following conventional PCR amplification of bisulfite-treated DNA, original cytosines appear as thymine while 5-methylcytosines appear as cytosine. Because the relative thermostability of a DNA duplex increases with increasing content of G:C base pairs, PCR products originating from DNA templates with different contents of 5-methylcytosine differ in melting temperature, i.e., the temperature required to convert the double helix into random coils. We describe two methods that resolve differentially methylated DNA sequences on the basis of differences in melting temperature. The first method integrates PCR amplification of bisulfite-treated DNA and subsequent melting analysis by using a thermal cycler coupled with a fluorometer. By including in the reaction a PCR-compatible, fluorescent dye that specifically binds to double-stranded DNA, the melting properties of the PCR product can be examined directly in the PCR tube by continuous fluorescence monitoring during a temperature transition. The second method relies on resolution of alleles with different 5-methylcytosine contents by analysis of PCR products in a polyacrylamide gel containing a gradient of chemical denaturants. Optimal resolution of differences in melting temperature is achieved by a special design of PCR primers. Both methods allow resolution of "heterogeneous" methylation, i.e., the situation where the content and distribution of 5-methylcytosine in a target gene differ between different molecules in the same sample.

5-Methylcytosine↗

Single-stranded gaps as localized targets for in vitro mutagenesis.

Short single-stranded gaps in circular DNA molecules can be generated enzymatically, often at predetermined sites. These can serve as targets for in vitro mutagenesis procedures that result in alterations in nucleotide sequence within or very near the gap. Deamination of unpaired cytosine residues with sodium bisulfite has been used to induce mutations in the BglI restriction site of SV40 DNA and within defined regions of the beta-lactamase gene on pBR322. A new method of induction of mutations at gaps, called "gap misrepair," has been developed; it was used to cause changes at the HindIII and C1aI restriction sites on pBR322 DNA. Gap misrepair reactions using DNA polymerase I of Micrococcus luteus in the presence of T4 DNA ligase and three of the four deoxynucleoside triphosphates yielded all three possible substitutions for adenine and cytosine residues in the DNA.

Chemical Phenomena↗

[Improvement and application of methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) is frequently used to screen DNA methylation state, but it is complicate and time-consuming, with high output of non-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products, and diseconomy, these methods need to be improved. RUNX3 gene is a tumor suppressor gene (TSG) in gastric cancer, and inactivated by both hypermethylation and allelic loss. This study was to adopt the improved MSP to detect methylation state of RUNX3 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Glassmilk was used to purify and recover DNA modified by sodium of bisulfite; GC-Melt solution was particularly used for amplification of GC-rich sequence to improve PCR specification. Methylation state of RUNX3 gene in 152 specimens of HCC was detected by this improved MSP, conventional MSP was used as control. RESULTS: In conventional MSP, expensive spin columns, and high speed and low temperature centrifuge should be used to purify and recover DNA, taking up at least 16 h in this process. On contrast, in improved MSP, purifying and recovering DNA with glassmilk need no expensive reagent or equipment mentioned above, taking up only about 1 h in the whole process. Compared with conventional MSP, non-specific PCR products of RUNX3 gene were greatly decreased by GC-Melt solution. Hypermethylation of RUNX3 gene detected in 51.9% (79/152) of HCC specimens. CONCLUSION: Improved MSP is a rapid, simple, and effective way to screen DNA methylation. DNA methylation may be an important mechanism of inactivation of RUNX3 gene in HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

Cross-linking of the anticodon of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis acetylvalyl-tRNA to the ribosomal P site. Characterization of a unique site in both E. coli 16S and yeast 18S ribosomal RNA.

The nucleotide residues involved in the cross-link between P site bound acetylvalyl-tRNA (AcVal-tRNA) and 16-18S rRNA have been identified. This cross-link was formed by irradiation of Escherichia coli or Bacillus subtilis AcVal-tRNA bound to the P site of E. coli ribosomes or by irradiation of E. coli AcVal-tRNA bound to the P site of yeast ribosomes. The three cross-linked RNA heterodimers were obtained in 10-35% purity by disruption of the irradiated ribosome-tRNA complex with sodium dodecyl sulfate followed by sucrose gradient centrifugation. After total digestion with RNase T1, and labeling at either the 5'- or the 3'-end, the cross-linked oligomers could be identified and isolated before and after photolytic splitting of the cross-link. One of the oligomers was shown to be UACACACCG, a unique rRNA nonamer present in an evolutionarily conserved region. This oligomer was found in all three heterodimers. The other oligomer of the dimer had the sequence expected for the RNase T1 product encompassing the anticodon of the tRNA used. The precise site of cross-linking was determined by two novel methods. Bisulfite modification of the oligonucleotide dimer converted all C residues to U, except for any cross-linked C which would be resistant by being part of a cyclobutane dimer. Sequencing gel analysis of the UACACACCG oligomer showed that the C residue protected was the 3'-penultimate C residue, C1400 in E. coli rRNA or C1626 in yeast rRNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anticodon↗

Automated fluorescent genomic sequencing as applied to the methylation analysis of the human ornithine decarboxylase gene.

A genomic sequencing method for an automated DNA sequencer was developed. The method described here is an improved version of the previously published protocol, which utilizes bisulfite-induced modification of genomic DNA. In our method, the modified DNA is purified without a time-consuming dialysis, and the subsequent 2-step DNA amplification is carried out with one biotinylated primer in order to separate and isolate the strands of the product with the aid of streptavidin-coated magnetic beads. The strands are then sequenced with fluorescent primers and automated DNA sequencer. This provides means to determine reliably the methylation status of cytosines as well as the degree of methylation in a given CpG, site of the target sequence. The method was successfully applied to analyze the promoter region and the 11th exon of the human ornithine decarboxylase ODC gene in various human myeloma cell lines. The study revealed a totally unmethylated promoter region in every cell line studied, whereas the protein coding region appeared to be extensively methylated, although a dexamethasone resistant cell line displayed demethylation in certain CpG sequences. Also, a previously unknown ODC allele was detected.

Automation↗

Modification of cytidines in a Q beta replicase template: analysis of conformation and localization of lethal nucleotide substitutions.

The solution conformation of MDV-1( + ) RNA, a small RNA template replicated autocatalytically in vitro by Q beta replicase, was investigated with sodium bisulfite, a reagent that selectively converts single-stranded cytidines to uridines. The reactivity of 45 of the 76 cytidines in MDV-1( + ) RNA was determined by nucleotide sequence analysis. Only 14 of these 45 cytidines were converted to uridine. Treatment of the RNA with methoxyamine, another single-strand-specific cytidine modification reagent, gave results in good agreement with the bisulfite data. The limited reactivity of MDV-1 ( + ) RNA with these reagents indicates that it is a highly structured molecule. A secondary structure consistent with the chemical modification data is proposed. Modification of MDV-1 ( + ) RNA by bisulfite renders it inactive as a template for RNA replication. This inactivation and the modification of the cytidines at the 3' end of the molecule occur at very similar rates. By using a short complementary RNA "mask" to protect just these cytidines, we demonstrated that the loss of activity resulted from their modification. This implies that one or more of the cytidines in the 3'-terminal sequence is required for template activity and that changes within this sequence can have lethal consequences. The effects of modification elsewhere in the sequence are discussed.

Base Sequence↗

Ultra-sensitive immunodetection of 5'methyl cytosine for DNA methylation analysis on oligonucleotide microarrays.

For the determination of methylation levels in genomic regulatory DNA sequences a high-sensitive assay for detecting 5'methyl-cytosines (5'mC) in non-bisulfite-treated DNA has been established. The system is designed for the application of immunofluorescence using a monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes 5'mC in single-stranded DNA hybridized to oligonucleotide microarrays. For assay readout an ultra-sensitive fluorescence scanner with submicrometer resolution was used. To minimize autofluorescence 150-microm thin glass slides with an aldehyde-functionalized surface were developed. These methodological improvements allowed the detection of 5'mC in synthetic oligonucleotides hybridized to microarrays with atto molar analytical sensitivity. Using enzymatic fragmented genomic DNA from myeloid leukemia tumor cell lines differences in the methylation status of gene regulatory sequences for E-cadherin, p15/CDKN2b and p16/CDKN2a were demonstrated. Thus, this novel technique can potentially be used for DNA methylation analysis in various scientific fields.

5-Methylcytosine↗

Differential inheritance modes of DNA methylation between euchromatic and heterochromatic DNA sequences in ageing fetal bovine fibroblasts.

To elucidate overall changes in DNA methylation occurring by inappropriate epigenetic control during ageing, we compared fetal bovine fibroblasts and their aged neomycin-resistant versions using bisulfite-PCR technology. Reduction in DNA methylation was observed in euchromatic repeats (18S-rRNA/art2) and promoter regions of single-copy genes (the cytokeratin/beta-lactoglobulin/interleukin-13 genes). Contrastingly, a stable maintenance of DNA methylation was revealed in various heterochromatic sequences (satellite I/II/alphoid and Bov-B). The differential inheritance mode of DNA methylation was confirmed through the analysis of individual neomycin-resistant clones. These global, multi-locus analyses provide evidence on the tendency of differential epigenetic modification between genomic DNA regions during ageing.

Animals↗

Hypermethylation-mediated regulation of CD44 gene expression in human neuroblastoma.

The CD44 adhesion receptor is silenced in highly malignant neuroblastomas (NBs) with MYCN amplification. Because its functional expression is associated with decreased tumorigenic properties, CD44 behaves as a tumor suppressor gene in NB and other cancers. Given that the precise mechanisms responsible for CD44 silencing are not elucidated, we investigated whether CD44 expression could be regulated by DNA hypermethylation. The methylation status of CD44 gene promoter and exon 1 regions was analyzed in 12 NB cell lines and 21 clinical samples after bisulfite genomic modification, followed by PCR and single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and genomic sequencing. The results showed that almost all CD44-negative cell lines displayed hypermethylation in both regions, whereas all CD44-expressing cell lines were unmethylated. These observations correlated with the ability to restore CD44 mRNA and protein expression by treatment of CD44-negative cells with the 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine demethylating agent. In contrast, no CD44 gene hypermethylation could be detected in 21 NB clinical samples of different stages, irrespective of CD44 expression. Although our results suggest that aberrant methylation of promoter and exon 1 regions is involved in CD44 silencing in NB cell lines, they also indicate that methylation of unidentified regulatory sequences or methylation-independent mechanisms also control the expression of CD44 in primary NB tumors and cell lines. We therefore conclude that CD44 silencing is controlled by complex and tumor cell-specific processes, including gene hypermethylation. Further investigation of other mechanisms and genes involved in CD44 regulation will be needed before demethylation-mediated reactivation of the CD44 gene can be considered as therapeutic strategy for neuroblastoma and perhaps other related cancers.

Azacitidine↗

Satellite 2 methylation patterns in normal and ICF syndrome cells and association of hypomethylation with advanced replication.

Mutation in the DNMT3B DNA methyltransferase gene is a common cause of ICF (immunodeficiency, centromeric heterochromatin, facial anomalies) immunodeficiency syndrome and leads to hypomethylation of satellites 2 and 3 in pericentric heterochromatin. This hypomethylation is associated with centromeric decondensation and chromosomal rearrangements, suggesting that these satellite repeats have an important structural role. In addition, the satellite regions may have functional roles in modifying gene expression. The extent of satellite hypomethylation in ICF cells is unknown because methylation status has only been determined with restriction enzymes that cut infrequently at these loci. We have therefore developed a bisulfite conversion-based method to determine the detailed cytosine methylation patterns at satellite 2 sequences in a quantitative manner for normal and ICF samples. From our sequence analysis of unmodified DNA, the internal repeat region analyzed for methylation contains an average of 17 CpG sites. The average level of methylation in normal lymphoblasts and fibroblasts is 69% compared with 20% in such cells from ICF patients with DNMT3B mutations and 29% in normal sperm. Although the mean satellite 2 methylation values for these groups do not overlap, there is considerable overlap at the level of individual DNA strands. Our analysis has also revealed a pattern of methylation specificity, suggesting that some CpGs in the repeat are more prone to methylation than other sites. Variation in satellite 2 methylation among lymphoblasts from different ICF patients has prompted us to determine the frequency of cytogenetic abnormalities in these cells. Although our data suggest that some degree of hypomethylation is necessary for pericentromeric decondensation, factors other than DNA methylation appear to play a major role in this phenomenon. Another such factor may be altered replication timing because we have discovered that the hypomethylation of satellite 2 in ICF cultures is associated with advanced replication.

Animals↗

Epigenetic and genetic alterations in duodenal carcinomas are distinct from biliary and ampullary carcinomas.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Carcinomas of the extrahepatic bile ducts, ampulla of Vater, and duodenum are uncommon, and their epigenetic and genetic alterations are not well characterized. METHODS: We therefore compared the methylation profile and genetic alterations in 18 extrahepatic biliary, 9 ampullary, and 12 duodenal carcinomas. We evaluated methylation at p16, p14, and human Mut L homologue (hMLH1) by methylation- specific PCR (MSP), and at cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), O(6)-methyl-guanine methyltransferase (MGMT), estrogen receptor (ER), retinoic acid receptor beta 2 (RAR beta), and T-type calcium channel (CACNA1G) genes, and methylated in tumor 1 (MINT1), MINT2, MINT25, MINT27, and MINT31 loci by combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA); mutation of K-ras, p53, p16, and p14 genes by sequencing; loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 9p; and microsatellite instability (MSI). RESULTS: Duodenal carcinomas were methylated more frequently or had increased methylation densities than biliary carcinomas at p14 (P = 0.04), hMLH1 (P = 0.04), MGMT (P = 0.01), MINT1 (P = 0.01), MINT25 (P = 0.01), MINT27 (P = 0.001), RAR beta (P = 0.03), and ER (P = 0.001), and than ampullary carcinomas at RAR beta (P = 0.02) and ER (P = 0.03). In contrast, the methylation profiles of biliary and ampullary carcinomas were not statistically different. Simultaneous methylation of 3 or more CpG islands (CpG island methylator phenotype-high) was more common in duodenal cancers (P = 0.004). MGMT methylation was associated with G-to-A mutation in K-ras (P = 0.006), and hMLH1 methylation was associated with MSI-high (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the methylation profile and genetic alterations of duodenal carcinomas are distinct from biliary and ampullary carcinomas, and that tumor-specific methylation is associated with gene mutation and MSI.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

The unmethylated state of CpG islands in mouse fibroblasts depends on the poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation process.

In vivo and in vitro experiments carried out on L929 mouse fibroblasts suggested that the poly(ADP-ribosyl) ation process acts somehow as a protecting agent against full methylation of CpG dinucleotides in genomic DNA. Since CpG islands, which are found almost exclusively at the 5'-end of housekeeping genes, are rich in CpG dinucleotides, which are the target of mammalian DNA methyltransferase, we examined the possibility that the poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation reaction is involved in maintaining the unmethylated state of these DNA sequences. Experiments were conducted by two different strategies, using either methylation-dependent restriction enzymes on purified genomic DNA or a sequence-dependent restriction enzyme on an aliquot of the same DNA, previously modified by a bisulfite reaction. With the methylation-dependent restriction enzymes, it was observed that the "HpaII tiny fragments" greatly decreased when the cells were preincubated with 3-aminobenzamide, a well known inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. The other experimental approach allowed us to prove that, as a consequence of the inhibition of the poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation process, an anomalous methylation pattern could be evidenced in the CpG island of the promoter fragment of the Htf9 gene, amplified from DNA obtained from fibroblasts preincubated with 3-aminobenzamide. These data confirm the hypothesis that, at least for the Htf9 promoter region, an active poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation protects the unmethylated state of the CpG island.

Animals↗

Chemical mutagenesis of human interferon-beta: construction, expression in E. coli, and biological activity of sodium bisulfite-induced mutations.

A series of modified human interferon-beta (IFN-beta) genes was produced by sodium bisulfite treatment of the IFN-beta gene cloned in M13. A library of mutated sequences was generated from which subgenomic fragments containing one or a small number of coding alterations were isolated and substituted into the IFN-beta gene in an E. coli expression vector. A number of modified genes and their expression products were evaluated. In several instances levels of expression and biological activity profiles are altered compared to the parental gene product. A number of key amino acids can be identified, whose substitutions have marked effects on biological activity of IFN-beta.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of the specific labile sites in the 180 kDa catalytic polypeptide of the Drosophila melanogaster DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex.

The immunoaffinity-purified DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex from Drosophila melanogaster Kc cells contains three high molecular weight polypeptides besides the 180 kDa catalytic polypeptide. These polypeptides are immunologically cross-reactive with the 180 kDa polypeptide. When the immunoaffinity-purified complex was kept at 4 degrees C for about four weeks, the amounts of the three polypeptides increased, while the 180 kDa polypeptide completely disappeared. Sodium bisulfite inhibited the decrease in the 180 kDa polypeptide. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of all the polypeptides were all assigned to ones present in a portion close to the N-terminus of the 180 kDa polypeptide. The N-terminal residue of all the three polypeptides was Ser. The cleavage sites were Phe130-Ser131, Thr180-Ser181, and Phe237-Ser238. These results show that the three polypeptides are cleavage products of the 180 kDa catalytic polypeptide, the cleavage occurring at specific labile sites including a Ser residue. The amino acid residues at the sites are quite different from those (Lys-Lys) in the human 180 kDa catalytic polypeptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

In-tube DNA methylation profiling by fluorescence melting curve analysis.

BACKGROUND: Most PCR assays for detection of 5-methylcytosine in genomic DNA entail a two-step procedure, comprising initial PCR amplification and subsequent product analysis in separate operations that usually require manual transfer. These methods generally provide information about methylation of only a few CpG dinucleotides within the target sequence. METHODS: An in-tube methylation assay is described that integrates amplification of bisulfite-treated DNA and melting analysis by using a thermal cycler coupled to a fluorometer (LightCycler). DNA melting curves were acquired by measuring the fluorescence of a double-stranded DNA-binding dye (SYBR Green I) during a linear temperature transition. RESULTS: Analysis of a region comprising 11 CpG sites at the SNRPN promoter CpG island showed that the melting temperature (T(m)) differed by approximately 3 degrees C between unmethylated and fully methylated alleles. This assay could easily distinguish patients with Prader-Willi syndrome or Angelman syndrome from individuals without these conditions. Melting curve analysis also allowed resolution of methylation "mosaicism" at the p15(Ink4b) promoter in bone marrow samples from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML samples representing pools of heterogeneously methylated p15(Ink4b) alleles showed broadened melting peaks with overall T(m)s between those of the unmethylated and fully methylated alleles. CONCLUSIONS: Integration of PCR and fluorescence melting analysis may be useful for simple and cost-effective detection of aberrant methylation patterns.

Acute Disease↗