Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.1.1.37 (DNA methyltransferase)
 4,983 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A chromosomal translocation, t(4;11)-(q21;q23), is associated with an aggressive mixed-lineage leukemia. A yeast artificial chromosome was used to clone the chromosomal breakpoint of this translocation in the RS4;11 cell line. The breakpoint sequences revealed an inverted repeat bordered by a consensus site for topoisomerase II binding and cleavage as well as chi-like elements. The der(11) chromosome encodes a fusion RNA and predicted chimeric protein between the 11q23 gene MLL and a 4q21 gene designated AF4. The sequence of the complete open reading frame for this fusion transcript reveals the MLL protein to have homology with DNA methyltransferase, the Drosophila trithorax gene product, and the "AT-hook" motif of high-mobility-group proteins. An alternative splice that deletes the AT-hook region of MLL was identified. AF4 is a serine- and proline-rich putative transcription factor with a glutamine-rich carboxyl terminus. The composition of the complete MLL-AF4 fusion product argues that it may act through either a gain-of-function or a dominant negative mechanism in leukemogenesis.
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PMID:Acute mixed-lineage leukemia t(4;11)(q21;q23) generates an MLL-AF4 fusion product. 768 31

The ALLI gene, located at chromosome band 11q23, is involved in acute leukemia through a series of chromosome translocations and fusion to a variety of genes, most frequently to A4 and AF9. The fused genes encode chimeric proteins proteins. Because the Drosophila homologue of ALL1, trithorax, is a positive regulator of homeotic genes and acts at the level of transcription, it is conceivable that alterations in ALL1 transcriptional activity may underlie its action in malignant transformation. To begin studying this, we examined the All1, AF4, AF9, and AF17 proteins for the presence of potential transcriptional regulatory domains. This was done by fusing regions of the proteins to the yeast GAL4 DNA binding domain and assaying their effect on transcription of a reporter gene. A domain of 55 residues positioned at amino acids 2829-2883 of ALL1 was identified as a very strong activator. Further analysis of this domain by in vitro mutagenesis pointed to a core of hydrophobic and acidic residues as critical for the activity. An ALL1 domain that repressed transcription of the reporter gene coincided with the sequence homologous to a segment of DNA methyltransferase. An AF4 polypeptide containing residues 480-560 showed strong activation potential. The C-terminal segment of AF9 spanning amino acids 478-568 transactivated transcription of the reporter gene in HeLa but not in NIH 3T3 cells. These results suggest that ALL1, AF4, and probably AF9 interact with the transcriptional machinery of the cell.
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PMID:Domains with transcriptional regulatory activity within the ALL1 and AF4 proteins involved in acute leukemia. 861 64

High rate of abortion and developmental abnormalities is thought to be closely associated with inefficient epigenetic reprogramming of the transplanted nuclei during bovine cloning. It is known that one of the important mechanisms for epigenetic reprogramming is DNA methylation. DNA methylation is established and maintained by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), therefore, it is postulated that the inefficient epigenetic reprogramming of transplanted nuclei may be due to abnormal expression of DNMTs. Since DNA methylation can strongly inhibit gene expression, aberrant DNA methylation of DNMT genes may disturb gene expression. But presently, it is not clear whether the methylation abnormality of DNMT genes is related to developmental failure of somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos. In our study, we analyzed methylation patterns of the 5' regions of four DNMT genes including Dnmt3a, Dnmt3b, Dnmt1 and Dnmt2 in four aborted bovine clones. Using bisulfite sequencing method, we found that 3 out of 4 aborted bovine clones (AF1, AF2 and AF3) showed either hypermethylation or hypomethylation in the 5' regions of Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b, indicating that Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b genes are not properly reprogrammed. However, the individual AF4 exhibited similar methylation level and pattern to age-matched in vitro fertilized (IVF) fetuses. Besides, we found that the 5' regions of Dnmt1 and Dnmt2 were nearly completely unmethylated in all normal adults, IVF fetuses, sperm and aborted clones. Together, our results suggest that the aberrant methylation of Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b 5' regions is probably associated with the high abortion of bovine clones.
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PMID:Aberrant DNA methylation in 5' regions of DNA methyltransferase genes in aborted bovine clones. 1880 75

DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are enzymes responsible for establishing and maintaining DNA methylation in cells. DNMT inhibition is actively pursued in cancer treatment, dominantly through the formation of irreversible covalent complexes between small molecular compounds and DNMTs that suffers from low efficacy and high cytotoxicity, as well as no selectivity towards different DNMTs. Herein, we discover aptamers against the maintenance DNA methyltransferase, DNMT1, by coupling Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AF4) with Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX). One of the identified aptamers, Apt. #9, contains a stem-loop structure, and can displace the hemi-methylated DNA duplex, the native substrate of DNMT1, off the protein on sub-micromolar scale, leading for effective enzymatic inhibition. Apt. #9 shows no inhibition nor binding activity towards two de novo DNMTs, DNMT3A and DNMT3B. Intriguingly, it can enter cancer cells with over-expression of DNMT1, colocalize with DNMT1 inside the nuclei, and inhibit the activity of DNMT1 in cells. This study opens the possibility of exploring the aptameric DNMT inhibitors being a new cancer therapeutic approach, by modulating DNMT activity selectively through reversible interaction. The aptamers could also be valuable tools for study of the functions of DNMTs and the related epigenetic mechanisms.
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PMID:A DNA aptamer for binding and inhibition of DNA methyltransferase 1. 3173 56