Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: EC:2.1.1.37 (DNA methyltransferase)
4,983 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Promoter region CpG island methylation is associated with tumor suppressor gene silencing in neoplasia. GenBank sequence analyses revealed that a number of CpG islands are juxtaposed to multiple Alu repeats, which have been proposed as "de novo methylation centers." These islands also contain multiple Sp1 elements located upstream and downstream of transcription start, which have been shown to protect CpG islands from methylation. We mapped the methylation patterns of the E-cadherin (E-cad) and von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene CpG island regions in normal and neoplastic cells. Although unmethylated in normal tissue, these islands were embedded between densely methylated flanking regions containing multiple Alu repeats. These methylated flanks were segregated from the unmethylated, island CpG sites by Sp1-rich boundary regions. Finally, in human fibroblasts overexpressing DNA methyltransferase, de novo methylation of the E-cad CpG island initially involved sequences at both ends of the island and the adjacent, flanking regions and progressed with time to encompass the entire CpG island region. Together, these data suggest that boundaries exist at both ends of a CpG island to maintain the unmethylated state in normal tissue and that these boundaries may be progressively overridden, eliciting the de novo methylation associated with tumor suppressor gene silencing in neoplasia.
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PMID:Mapping patterns of CpG island methylation in normal and neoplastic cells implicates both upstream and downstream regions in de novo methylation. 926 83

The successful production of embryos by nuclear transfer (NT) employing cultured somatic donor cells depends upon a variety of factors. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects 1) of two different activation protocols, 2) the use of quiescent or nonquiescent donor cells (G(0) or G(1) of the cell cycle), and 3) passage number of donor cells on the relative abundance (RA) of eight specific mRNAs (DNA methyltransferase, DNMT; mammalian achaete-scute homologue, Mash2; glucose transporter-1, Glut-1; heat shock protein 70.1, Hsp; desmocollin II, Dc II; E-cadherin, E-cad; interferon tau, IF; insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor, Igf2r) in single blastocysts employing a semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. The results were compared with those for their in vitro (IVP)- and in vivo-generated noncloned counterparts. In experiment 1, employing either FBA (fusion before activation) or AFS (fusion and activation simultaneously) to generate NT blastocysts, Hsp mRNAs were not found in NT embryos from either protocol, whereas Hsp transcripts were detectable in IVP embryos. The relative abundance (RA) of IF transcripts was significantly increased in the AFS and IVP groups compared to the FBA treatment. In experiment 2, the use of either G(0) or G(1) donor cells to produce cloned embryos both significantly reduced the relative amount of DNMT transcripts and significantly increased the RA of Mash2 compared to the IVP embryos. In addition, IF transcript levels were significantly elevated in NT blastocysts employing G(1) donor cells for NT compared to IVP embryos and those generated using G(0) cells. In experiment 3, donor cells, either from passsage 5/6 or 8, were employed for NT. DNMT transcripts were significantly decreased, whereas Mash2 transcripts were significantly increased in both NT groups compared to their IVP counterparts. The amount of IF mRNA was significantly higher in P8-derived than in P5/6 and IVP embryos. In experiment 4, the RA of DNMT transcripts was decreased in in vivo-derived blastocysts compared to those produced in vitro. Mash2 expression was increased in in vivo embryos and those IVP embryos produced in medium containing Sigma BSA. The RA of Hsp was higher in IVP embryos produced in serum containing medium than in those produced in Sigma BSA or in vivo. In vivo embryos and those produced in Life Technologies BSA had the lowest expression of IF transcripts. Expression of all other genes was not affected by variation in NT methodology or IVP culture systems throughout experiments 1-4. In conclusion, depending on steps of the cloning procedure NT-derived embryos display marked differences from their IVP- and in vivo-derived counterparts. An aberrant expression pattern in NT embryos was found with respect to genes thought to be involved in stress adaptation, trophoblastic function, and DNA methylation during preimplantation development.
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PMID:Nuclear transfer protocol affects messenger RNA expression patterns in cloned bovine blastocysts. 1142 Feb 54

The latent membrane protein (LMP1) of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is expressed in EBV-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which is notoriously metastatic. Although it is established that LMP1 represses E-cadherin expression and enhances the invasive ability of carcinoma cells, the mechanism underlying this repression remains to be elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that LMP1 induces the expression and activity of the DNA methyltransferases 1, 3a, and 3b, using real-time reverse transcription-PCR and enzyme activity assay. This results in hypermethylation of the E-cadherin promoter and down-regulation of E-cadherin gene expression, as revealed by methylation-specific PCR, real-time reverse transcription-PCR and Western blotting data. The DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5'-Aza-2'dC, restores E-cadherin promoter activity and protein expression in LMP1-expressing cells, which in turn blocks cell migration ability, as demonstrated by the Transwell cell migration assay. Our findings suggest that LMP1 down-regulates E-cadherin gene expression and induces cell migration activity by using cellular DNA methylation machinery.
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PMID:The Epstein-Barr virus oncogene product, latent membrane protein 1, induces the downregulation of E-cadherin gene expression via activation of DNA methyltransferases. 1211 Jul 30

Genes that suppress tumorigenesis can be silenced by epigenetic events, such as aberrant DNA methylation and modification of chromatin structure. Inhibitors of DNA methylase and histone deacetylase (HDAC) can potentially reverse these events. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro antineoplastic activity of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-AZA-CdR), a potent inhibitor of DNA methylase, in combination with depsipeptide (depsi), an inhibitor of HDAC, on human breast carcinoma cells. We observed a synergistic antineoplastic interaction between 5-AZA-CdR and depsi in their capacity to inhibit colony formation of Hs578T and MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells. In order to understand the molecular mechanism of this interaction, we investigated the effect of these drugs on the activation of the 14-3-3sigma, E-cadherin and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3) cancer-related genes, which were reported to be silenced by aberrant methylation in many breast tumor cell lines. 14-3-3sigma was reported to produce G cell cycle arrest following DNA damage. E-cadherin and TIMP3 function as suppressors of tumor metastasis. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to determine the effect of the co-administration of 5-AZA-CdR and depsi on four breast carcinoma cell lines for the reactivation of these genes. We observed a synergistic activation of E-cadherin by the combination in Hs578T, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435 tumor cells. For 14-3-3sigma, we demonstrated an additive to synergistic activation by the combination for Hs578T and MDA-MB-435 tumor cells, respectively. In the MCF-7 tumor cells, the drug combination produced a synergistic activation of TIMP3. The association between the synergistic antineoplastic activity and the synergistic activation of the target genes in this study suggests that the mechanism of anticancer activity of 5-AZA-CdR, in combination with depsi, is probably related to their enhanced activation of different types of tumor suppressor genes that have been silenced by epigenetic events.(2)
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PMID:Interaction of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and depsipeptide on antineoplastic activity and activation of 14-3-3sigma, E-cadherin and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 expression in human breast carcinoma cells. 1263 13

E-cadherin is a key cell adhesion molecule implicated as a tumor suppressor, which is frequently altered in hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related tumors. Here, we report that HBV X protein (HBx) represses E-cadherin expression at the transcription level. Based on the differential effects of HBx natural variants, we determined that Lys-130 in the transactivation domain of HBx is critical for the E-cadherin repression. The repression effect of HBx was abolished after treatment with DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5'-Aza-2'dC. In addition, methylation-specific PCR analysis revealed that the CpG island 1 of E-cadherin promoter is hypermethylated by HBx. Furthermore, HBx induces DNA methyltransferase 1 expression by stimulating its transcription. Therefore, we conclude that HBx represses E-cadherin expression by inducing methylation-mediated promoter inactivation. The reduced E-cadherin expression results in dramatic morphological changes of the HBx-expressing cells. In addition, HBx-expressing cells aggregate poorly in suspension culture, reflecting their altered intercellular interactions. The biological significance was further demonstrated by the increased collagen invasion ability of HBx-expressing cells. Therefore, the present study suggests that HBx plays a role during hepatocellular carcinogenesis by favoring cell detachment from the surrounding cells and migration outside of the primary tumor site.
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PMID:Hepatitis B virus X protein represses E-cadherin expression via activation of DNA methyltransferase 1. 1600 61

Hypermethylation of CpG islands near gene promoter regions is associated with transcriptional inactivation and represents an important mechanism of gene silencing in carcinogenesis. Such epigenetic phenomena can act alongside DNA mutations and deletions to disrupt tumor-suppressor gene function. The methylation status of the promoter-associated CpG islands from 11 well-characterized cancer-related genes was analyzed by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction in 60 adult patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) at diagnosis. The frequency of aberrant methylation among the patient samples was 45.0% (27/60) for suppressor of cytokine signaling-1, 31.7% (19/60) for p15, 20.0% (12/60) for retinoic acid receptor beta2, 13.3% (8/60) for p73 and E-cadherin, 5.0% (3/60) for O(6)-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase, 3.3% (2/60) for death-associated protein kinase 1 and hMLH1, 1.7% (1/60) for p16, and 0% (0/60) for the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-3 and Ras association domain family 1A. Aberrant DNA methylation was found in AML of all French-American-British subtypes and throughout all cytogenetic risk groups. There appeared to be a trend towards a higher methylation frequency in AML patients with an unfavorable karyotype, but this difference was not statistically significant. Our data indicate that hypermethylation of multiple genes involving fundamental cellular pathways is a common event in AML, which varies greatly in frequency among the genes examined. The accumulation of epigenetic events affecting genes which are involved in regulating cell cycle inhibition, cell adhesion, growth factor signaling, and apoptosis may contribute to the malignant AML phenotype. The growing knowledge of the role of epigenetics in the aberrant silencing of cancer-related genes provides a rationale and molecular basis for targeted therapeutic approaches with demethylating agents in AML.
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PMID:Clinical implications of aberrant DNA methylation patterns in acute myelogenous leukemia. 1623 Nov 40

Epigenetic alterations of DNA methylation play an important role in the regulation of gene expression associated with chemosensitivity of gastric carcinomas. With the aim of improving the chemotherapeutic efficacy of gastric carcinoma, the effect of DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5-aza-CdR, on the chemosensitivity of five anticancer drugs was investigated. Human gastric cancer cell lines, OCUM-2M and MKN-74, and five anticancer drugs, 5-FU, PTX, OXA, SN38, and GEM, were used. In both gastric cancer cell lines, a synergistic antiproliferative effect by a combination of 5-aza-CdR at 5 microM was found in SN38 and GEM. 5-Aza-CdR at 5 microM increased apoptosis induced by SN38 and GEM in both cell lines. 5-Aza-CdR increases the expression of DAPK-2 and DAPK-3, RASSF1, and THBS1 genes in both OCUM-2M and MKN-74 cells, but not that of hMLH1, p16, MGMT, E-cadherin, and p53 genes. These findings suggest that 5-aza-CdR is a promising chemotherapeutical agent for gastric carcinomas, in combination with the anticancer drugs SN38 and GEM, in apoptosis signaling. The upregulation of DAPK-2 and DAPK-3, RASSF1, and THBS1 genes by 5-aza-CdR might be associated with the synergistic effect.
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PMID:Synergic antiproliferative effect of DNA methyltransferase inhibitor in combination with anticancer drugs in gastric carcinoma. 1680 21

Pivotal to successful mammalian reproduction is the ability of a developing embryo to implant to the uterine wall and establish a nutrient supply via placentation. Herein, we have examined the potential epigenetic regulation of human trophoblastic cell migration and invasion by use of the choriocarcinoma cell line, BeWo. Treatment of BeWo cells with a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5'-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (AZA), resulted in conversion of cell morphology to a nonmigratory phenotype. This was exemplified by the ability of AZA to prevent BeWo cell migration in wound healing and transwell migration assays. AZA consequently inhibited BeWo cell invasion through reconstituted basement membrane. Examination of components of the adherens junction complex pivotal for determination of cell phenotype revealed that AZA specifically increased the mRNA level of E-cadherin and plakoglobin (gamma-catenin), but not alpha-catenin and beta-catenin. AZA also increased the gene promoter activity of both plakoglobin and E-cadherin. Protein levels of both plakoglobin and E-cadherin were increased by AZA, and AZA enhanced their localization to sites of intercellular contact. Forced expression of plakoglobin and E-cadherin abrogated BeWo cell migration, indicative that repression of these genes was required for BeWo cell migration. Small interfering RNA-mediated depletion of the individual DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) molecules did not affect plakoglobin and E-cadherin promoter activity or BeWo cell migration. However, increases in plakoglobin and E-cadherin promoter activity and inhibition of BeWo cell migration was achieved with small interfering RNA-mediated depletion of both DNMT-3a and DNMT-3b. Epigenetic regulation of plakoglobin and E-cadherin is therefore pivotal for appropriate trophoblastic invasion in vitro.
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PMID:Epigenetic regulation of human trophoblastic cell migration and invasion. 1688 5

EBV latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) activates cellular DNA methyltransferases, resulting in hypermethylation and silencing of E-cadherin. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, we show that LMP1 directly induces the dnmt1 promoter activity through its COOH-terminal activation region-2 YYD domain. Using (i) LMP1 mutants, (ii) dominant negative mutants c-jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK)-DN, p38-DN, and constitutive active mutant IkappaB, as well as (iii) dsRNAs targeting c-Jun, JNK, and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated death domain protein, and (iv) signal transduction inhibitors, we show that LMP1-mediated DNA methyltransferase-1 (DNMT1) activation involves JNK but not nuclear factor kappaB and p38/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. In addition, LMP1 is unable to activate dnmt1-P1 promoter with activator protein-1 (AP-1) site mutation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay results also confirm that LMP1 activates P1 promoter via the JNK-AP-1 pathway. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay data in LMP1-inducible cells disclose that LMP1 induces formation of a transcriptional repression complex, composed of DNMT1 and histone deacetylase, which locates on E-cadherin gene promoter. Treatment with JNK inhibitor, SP600125, prevents the formation of this repression complex. Statistical analyses of the immunohistochemical staining of 32 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) biopsies show LMP1 expression (18 of 32, 56.25%), DNMT1 expression (31 of 32, 97%), and phospho-c-Jun (27 of 32, 84.38%), suggesting that overexpression of these proteins is observed in NPC tumor. Overall, these results support a mechanistic link between JNK-AP-1 signaling and DNA methylation induced by the EBV oncogene product LMP1.
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PMID:Activation of DNA methyltransferase 1 by EBV LMP1 Involves c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase signaling. 1717 61

Epigenetic silencing of regulatory genes by aberrant methylation contributes to tumorigenesis. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTI) represent promising new drugs for anti-cancer therapies. The DNMTI 5-Azacytidine is effective against myelodysplastic syndrome, but induces switching of latent to lytic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in vitro and results in EBV DNA demethylation with the potential of induction of lytic EBV in vivo. This is of considerable concern given that recurrent lytic EBV has been linked with an increased incidence of EBV-associated lymphomas. Based on the distinct properties of action we hypothesized that the newer DNMTI Zebularine might differ from 5-Azacytidine in its potential to induce switching from latent to lytic EBV. Here we show that both 5-Azacytidine and Zebularine are able to induce expression of E-cadherin, a cellular gene frequently silenced by hypermethylation in cancers, and thus demonstrate that both DNMTI are active in our experimental setting consisting of EBV-harboring Burkitt's lymphoma Akata cells. Quantification of mRNA expression of EBV genes revealed that 5-Azacytidine induces switching from latent to lytic EBV and, in addition, that the immediate-early lytic infection progresses to early and late lytic infection. Furthermore, 5-Azacytidine induced upregulation of the latent EBV genes LMP2A, LMP2B, and EBNA2 in a similar fashion as observed following switching of latent to lytic EBV upon cross-linking of the B-cell receptor. In striking contrast, Zebularine did not exhibit any effect neither on lytic nor on latent EBV gene expression. Thus, Zebularine might be safer than 5-Azacytidine for the treatment of cancers in EBV carriers and could also be applied against EBV-harboring tumors, since it does not induce switching from latent to lytic EBV which may result in secondary EBV-associated malignancies.
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PMID:Zebularine reactivates silenced E-cadherin but unlike 5-Azacytidine does not induce switching from latent to lytic Epstein-Barr virus infection in Burkitt's lymphoma Akata cells. 1721 5


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