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PMID: 11118227 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

DNA of Drosophila melanogaster contains 5-methylcytosine.

The EMBO journal ·Vol. 19 ·No. 24 ·2000-12-15 ·Pages 6918-23

Gowher H, Leismann O, Jeltsch A

Abstract

It is commonly accepted that the DNA of Drosophila melanogaster does not contain 5-methylcytosine, which is essential in the development of most eukaryotes. We have developed a new, highly specific and sensitive assay to detect the presence of 5-methylcytosine in genomic DNA. The DNA is degraded to nucleosides, 5-methylcytosine purified by HPLC and, for detection by 1D- and 2D-TLC, radiolabeled using deoxynucleoside kinase and [gamma-(32)P]ATP. Using this assay, we show here that 5-methylcytosine occurs in the DNA of D. melanogaster at a level of approximately 1 in 1000-2000 cytosine residues in adult flies. DNA methylation is detectable in all stages of D.melanogaster development.

MeSH Terms
5-Methylcytosine Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism Animals Autoradiography Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, Thin Layer Cytosine/analogs & derivatives,analysis DNA/chemistry DNA Methylation Drosophila melanogaster/genetics Phosphotransferases (Phosphate Group Acceptor)/metabolism
Chemicals
5-Methylcytosine Cytosine Adenosine Triphosphate DNA Phosphotransferases (Phosphate Group Acceptor) (deoxy)nucleoside-phosphate kinase
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Gowher H
Institut für Biochemie, Fachbereich 8, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58, 35392 Giessen and Lehrstuhl für Genetik, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätstrasse 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany.
Leismann O
Jeltsch A
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Article Info
Journal
The EMBO journal
Abbr.
EMBO J
ISSN
0261-4189
DOI
10.1093/emboj/19.24.6918
Published
2000-12-15
Pages
6918-23
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
8208664
PMCID
PMC305887
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1093/emboj/19.24.6918 PMC Full Text View journal details
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