Erasure, establishment and maintenance of genetic imprinting are indispensable for normal embryonic development. All these processes depend on accurate expression and intimate cooperation of kinds of DNA methyltransferases. Many genetic syndromes and embryo developmental anomalies are caused by abnormality of genetic imprinting. Genetic imprinting is important for the nucleus totipotential of primordial germ cell, maturation of gamete,growth and development of embryo, structure and function of placenta as well as postnatal growth and development of individuals.
Animals ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Modification Methylases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Embryonic Development ; genetics ; Genomic Imprinting ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation

The RNA-directed DNA Methylation (RdDM) is one type of epigenetic modification which was firstly discovered in plant. RdDM can directly cause DNA modifications of the genome through RNA-DNA interactions. In plant, both of RdDM and mRNA degradation induced by siRNA can silence sequence specific genes through RNA. They play very significant roles in chromosome rearrangement, defence of virus invasion, regulation of gene expression and many processes of plant development. However, the mechanisms of RdDM are still unclear. In this paper the basic characteristics of RdDM were briefly summarized and advances in studies on mechanisms of RdDM were reviewed. These include the kinds of DNA methyltransferases and their functional mechanisms in RdDM, the relationships between DNA methylation and chromatin modification, and important proteins involved in the RdDM process. In plants, RdDM may occur at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptionnal levels, both of which induce gene silencing. Methylation of the target gene promoter correlates with transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) whereas methylation of the coding sequence is associated with post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). RdDM and RNAi all depend on the similar siRNA and enzymes, such as DCL3, RdR2, SDE4 and AGO4. There are at least three kinds of DNA methyltransferases, DRM1/2, MET1 and CMT3, in pants. They can interact with and modifies all cytidines within the DNA regions homologous to RNA sequence. Furthermore, methylation of lysine 9 in Histone H3 can affect the methylation of cytidines.
DNA Methylation ; DNA Modification Methylases ; metabolism ; Gene Silencing ; Plants ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; RNA ; metabolism

DNA Methylation ; DNA Modification Methylases ; genetics ; DNA Repair Enzymes ; genetics ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; Prognosis ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

The occurrence and development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is not only related to gene mutations, but also influenced by abnormal epigenetic regulation, in which DNA methylation is one of the most important mechanisms. Abnormal DNA methylation may lead to the activation of oncogene and the inactivation of tumor suppressor gene, resulting in the occurrence of leukemia. The mutations of DNA methylation enzymes associated with AML may have certain characteristics. The AML with recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities is also related to abnormal methylation. Some fusion genes can alter DNA methylation status to participate in the pathogenesis of leukemia. In addition, chemotherapy drug resistance in patients with AML is associated with the change of gene methylation status. Considering the reversibility of the epigenetic modification, targeted methylation therapy has become a hotspot of AML research.
DNA Methylation ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; DNA Modification Methylases ; genetics ; physiology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; etiology ; genetics ; pathology ; Mutation ; genetics

Lentiviral vectors were powerful gene delivery tools for gene therapy. We developed a new lentiviral vector pBobi-MIL that constitutively expressed O6-methylguanine-DNAmethyltransferase (MGMT) and Luciferase, linked by the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES), to realize drug tolerance and real time monitoring in vivo. All results from RT-PCR, drug treating clones forming, immunofluorometric assay and chemiluminescence detection showed that cells infected by recombinant lentivirus L-MIL simultaneously expressed these two genes. This lays the foundation for the further research in gene therapy and can also help identify lentivirus titer.
DNA Modification Methylases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; DNA Repair Enzymes ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Drug Resistance ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Luciferases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Dujieqing Oral Liquid (DJQ) on the promoter methylation of the O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene in the plasma DNA samples from middle-and-late stage tumor patients receiving chemotherapy.

METHODSRecruited 60 patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (treated by conventional chemotherapy combined DJQ, 20 mL each time, three times daily) and the control group (treated by chemotherapy alone), 30 in each group. The therapeutic course was 8 weeks. The promoter methylation of the MGMT gene in the plasma DNA samples form middle-and-late stage tumor patients receiving chemotherapy was detected before and after treatment using nested methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP). Meanwhile, the peripheral hemogram was detected. The clinical efficacy and toxic/adverse reactions were assessed using Karnofsky performance scale (KPS).

RESULTSResults of the promoter methylation of MGMT genes showed that methylation rate was 20.00% in the treatment group and 46.67% in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with before treatment, the KPS was significantly improved in the treatment group after treatment, while it significantly decreased in the control group after treatment (both P<0.05). There was statistical difference in the KPS between the two groups after treatment (P<0.01). The toxic/adverse reactions were milder in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSDJQ showed efficiency synergism and toxicity reducing effects, but with no effect on the hematopoietic function of the bone marrow. MGMT gene was indicated as DJQ's target point for efficiency synergism and toxicity reducing. The efficiency synergism and toxicity reducing effects were achieved by regulating the activities of MGMT gene.

Adult ; Aged ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Modification Methylases ; genetics ; DNA Repair Enzymes ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between histone H3-K9 methylation, DNA methylation and expression of carcinoma suppressor gene MGMT in laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cell line. METHOD: 5-Aza-dC was used to deal with Hep-2 cell cultured in vitro. ChIP, MSP and Realtime-PCR were used to detect H3-K9 methylation, DNA methylation, of MGMT gene promoter region and MGMT gene expression before and after treatment with drugs. RESULT: (1) In Hep-2 cell line, gene MGMT was characterized by DNA methylation and histone H3-K9 hypermethylation. (2) 5-Aza-dC was able to reduce H3-K9 methylation of MGMT gene histone in Hep-2 cell line, 5-Aza-dC was able to reverse DNA methylation of MGMT gene histone in Hep-2 cell line, 5-Aza-dC was able to upregulate the down-regulated gene expression of tumor suppressor genes MGMT. CONCLUSION Promoter methylation of cancer suppressor gene MGMT may induce the gene inactivity. DNA methylation may increase H3-K9 methylation. 5-Aza-dC can reduce H3-K9 methylation of tumor suppressor gene MGMT histone by reversing DNA methylation of tumor suppressor gene MGMT, and then the expression of tumor suppressor genes is increased and tumor development is inhibited.
Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Modification Methylases ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Repair Enzymes ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Histones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

To study the methylation in the promoter of LRP15 gene and its relationship with gene expression and to explore the possible mechanism of regulating LRP15 gene methylation, the methylation in the promoter of LRP15 gene in K562 cell line was detected by MS-PCR. Then K562 was exposed to 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (CdR) and trichostatin (TSA), to determine whether the silencing of LRP15 gene by de novo methylation could be reversed. As a result, it was confirmed by MS-PCR that the promoter of LRP15 was hypermathylated in K562 cell line, and lost its transcription activity. After CdR, with or without TSA, the silencing of LRP15 gene by de novo methylation can be reversed. Observation demonstrated that the expression of LRP15 was controlled by methylation in its promoter in K562. It is suggested that methyltransferase inhibitor and deacetylase inhibitor may be effective agents in leukemia therapy.
Azacitidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Modification Methylases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors ; Humans ; Hydroxamic Acids ; pharmacology ; K562 Cells ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics

To investigate the effect of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) on cell of high-risk patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in vitro, the growth inhibition of MUTZ-1 cell induced by 5-Aza-CdR was detected by MTT method; apoptosis was detected by morphological observation and translocation of phosphatidylserine (PS) was examined by flow cytometry assay; the expressions of P15INK4B, DNA methyltransferases (DNMT)(1), DNMT(3A) and DNMT(3B) gene on mRNA level were detected by RT-PCR; methylation of p15INK4B gene in MUTZ-1 cells was detected by PCR using methylation specific primer (MSP). The results showed that 5-Aza-CdR inhibited the growth of MUTZ-1 cells. The IC(50) values of 24, 48 and 72 hours were 6.75, 2.82 and 5.45 mmol/L respectively. Characteristic changes of apoptosis emerged in MUTZ-1 cells after being exposed to 5-Aza-CdR in the different concentration from 0.8 mmol/L to 3.2 mmol/L, and the positive cells of annexin V on the membrane of MUTZ-1 cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. 5-Aza-CdR could activate the p15INK4B gene expression in MUTZ-1 cells by demethylation of the p15INK4B gene in a dose-dependent manner after the cells were treated for 48 hours. Furthermore, 5-Aza-CdR could significantly down-regulate the expressions of DNA methyltransferase genes DNMT(3A) at mRNA level in a dose dependent manner. However, it had no effects on DNMT(1) gene and DNMT(3B) gene. It is concluded that 5-Aza-CdR can inhibit the growth of MUTZ-1 cells and induce the apoptosis of these cells within the range of concentration from 0.8 mmol/L to 3.2 mmol/L, which may be one of the mechanisms of antitumor effects of 5-Aza-CdR. The drug can activate the expression of p15INK4B gene in MUTZ-1 cells by demethylation of the p15INK4B gene through inhibiting the expression of DNMT(3A) gene. It may be the mechanism of 5-Aza-CdR in the treatments of MDS.
Azacitidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Modification Methylases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; drug therapy ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo establish a drug-resistance cell line of human glioma mediated by MGMT.

METHODSSimulated the clinical usage of BCNU to establish a BCNU-resistant human glioma subline by cyclic exposing the U251 parent cells to a constant concentration of BCNU. The resistance index and the expression of MGMT mRNA of U251/BCNU were detected and compared the difference of in vitro proliferation between U251 and U251/BCNU.

RESULTSA subline--U251/BCNU was successfully established in about 4-month culture, which had a stable resistance to BCNU. U251/BCNU cells showed 17-fold higher resistance to BCNU than did U251 cells by MTT assay, while U251/BCNU cells expressed MGMT mRNA. The doubling time of U251 and U251/BCNU had no statistical difference.

CONCLUSIONA drug-resistance cell line of human glioma mediated by MGMT is established, which could provide experimental basis for further studies on the resistance mechanism and reversal methods of glioma chemotherapy.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; biosynthesis ; Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Modification Methylases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Glioma ; pathology ; Humans ; O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase ; metabolism ; physiology