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)

Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) expression is tissue specific and limited to certain subsets of T-lymphocytes and stromal/osteoblastic cells. Even among osteoblasts, RANKL is expressed on about 20% of osteoblasts of the normal mouse. To clarify the mechanism of population-specific RANKL expression, we analyzed the effect of CpG methylation on its transcription, mRNA and protein expression as well as on osteoclastogenesis. Subpopulations of ST2 cells were used: P9, which expresses RANKL and supports osteoclastogenesis, and P16, which does not. By sodium bisulfite mapping, the rate of CpG methylation of the -65/+350 region, especially of CpG locus no. 1 three bases upstream of the TATA-box, was higher in P16 than in P9 ST2 cells. ChIP and gel shift assay showed that methylated CpG locus no. 1 was a target of MeCP2 binding that, in turn, blocked the binding of the TATA-box binding protein to the TATA-box. In vitro methylation by SssI of the promoter construct reduced its transcriptional activity at the steady state and its response to 1alpha,25(OH)2 vitamin D3. Conversely, treatment with DNA methylase inhibitor, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, significantly restored RANKL expression and osteoclastogenesis in P16 cells. Except for primary cultured osteoblasts, CpG locus no. 1 was frequently methylated in various normal mouse tissues. We propose that the methylation status of the CpG locus three bases upstream of the TATA-box modulates the control of cell- and tissue-specific expression of RANKL gene and osteoclastogenesis. The heterogeneity of stromal/ osteoblastic cells in response to bone-resorbing stimuli may be attributed, in part, to the methylation status of the RANKL gene promoter.
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PMID:Methylation status of a single CpG locus 3 bases upstream of TATA-box of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) gene promoter modulates cell- and tissue-specific RANKL expression and osteoclastogenesis. 1700 84

Overexpression of DNA methyltransferases DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b has been reported in various cancers. However, physical binding of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) to the hypermethylated promoter of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) has never been demonstrated in tumor tissues. In addition, alteration of DNMT at the protein level has never been reported in the same series of cancer patients. By immunohistochemical analysis, we demonstrated that DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b proteins were highly expressed in a coordinate manner in lung tumors, particularly in smokers (P=0.037, by the Fisher exact test). Patients with DNMT1 overexpression had a trend of poorer prognosis than those without such overexpression, and this prognostic significance was apparent in squamous carcinoma (SQ) patients (P=0.041, by the log-rank test). Both DNMT1 and DNMT3b overexpressions correlated with hypermethylation in the TSG promoters, especially among smoking SQ patients (P=0.012). To further explore the molecular mechanisms between altered TSGs promoter methylation and overexpression of DNMTs protein, we performed a tissue chromatin-immunoprecipitation polymerase chain reaction assay for lung tumors and showed that the methylated FHIT, p16(INK4a) and RARbeta promoters were bound by both DNMT protein and methyl-CpG-binding protein 2. These data suggest that overexpression and strong binding of various DNMTs may result in promoter hypermethylation of multiple TSGs and ultimately lead to lung tumorigenesis and poor prognosis.
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PMID:Alteration of DNA methyltransferases contributes to 5'CpG methylation and poor prognosis in lung cancer. 1714 Jun 95

Transcription of the Xist gene triggers X chromosome inactivation in cis and is therefore silenced on the X chromosome that remains active. DNA methylation contributes to this silencing, but the mechanism is unknown. As methylated DNA binding proteins (MBPs) are potential mediators of gene silencing by DNA methylation, we asked whether MBP-deficient cell lines could maintain Xist repression. The absence of Mbd2 caused significant low-level reactivation of Xist, but silencing was restored by exogenous Mbd2. In contrast, deficiencies of Mbd1, MeCP2, and Kaiso had no detectable effect, indicating that MBPs are not functionally redundant at this locus. Xist repression in Mbd2-null cells was hypersensitive to the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A and to depletion of the DNA methyltransferase Dnmt1. These synergies implicate Mbd2 as a mediator of the DNA methylation signal at this locus. The presence of redundant mechanisms to enforce repression at Xist and other loci is compatible with the hypothesis that "stacking" of imperfect repressive tendencies may be an evolutionary strategy to ensure leakproof gene silencing.
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PMID:Mbd2 contributes to DNA methylation-directed repression of the Xist gene. 1735 71

The mature mammalian metaphase II (MII) oocyte has a unique ability to reprogram sperm chromatin and support early embryonic development. This feature even extends to the epigenetic reprogramming of a terminally differentiated cell nucleus as observed in connection with somatic cell nuclear transfer. Epigenetic nuclear reprogramming is highly linked to chromatin structure and includes covalent modifications of DNA and core histone proteins as well as reorganization of higher-order chromatin structure. A group of conserved enzymes mediating DNA methylation, methyl-CpG-binding protein (MeCP), histone acetylation and methylation, and chromatin remodeling are extensively involved in epigenetic reprogramming in mammalian cells. Using the oligonucleotide microarray technique, the present study compared the expression levels of 86 genes associated with epigenetic reprogramming in murine in vivo matured MII oocytes with that of germinal vesicle oocytes. Correlation between biological replicates was high. A total of 57 genes with potential reprogramming effect were detected. In MII oocytes, four genes were significant up-regulated, whereas 18 were down-regulated and 35 unchanged. The significantly regulated genes were validated by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. For example, MII oocytes showed a significant down-regulation of oocyte-specific maintenance DNA methyltransferase, Dnmt1o, and up-regulation of MeCP transcript, methyl-CpG binding domain protein 2. Furthermore, histone acetyltransferases were proportionally overrepresented when compared with histone deacetylases. These data elucidate for the first time some of the mechanisms that the oocyte may employ to reprogram a foreign genome either in form of a spermatozoa or a somatic nucleus and may thus be of importance for advancing the fields of stem cell research and regenerative medicine.
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PMID:Evaluation in mammalian oocytes of gene transcripts linked to epigenetic reprogramming. 1789 Feb 90

Although STAT5A and STAT5B have some nonredundant functional properties, their distinct contributions to carcinogenesis are not clearly defined. Here we report that STAT5A expression is selectively inhibited by DNA methylation of the STAT5A gene promoter region in cells expressing the oncogenic tyrosine kinase NPM1-ALK (also known as NPM-ALK). The DNA methylation is induced by NPM1-ALK itself via STAT3, and is associated with binding to the promoter of the gene encoding MeCP2 capping protein and with lack of binding of the STAT5A gene transcription activator SP1. Reversal of methylation by the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5'-aza-2'-deoxycytidine restores SP1 binding and STAT5A gene expression. Notably, the induced or exogenously expressed STAT5A protein binds to the enhancer and intron 14 of the NPM1-ALK gene and triggers selective suppression of NPM1-ALK expression. These results show that NPM1-ALK induces epigenetic silencing of STAT5A gene and that STAT5A protein can act as a key tumor suppressor by reciprocally inhibiting expression of NPM1-ALK.
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PMID:STAT5A is epigenetically silenced by the tyrosine kinase NPM1-ALK and acts as a tumor suppressor by reciprocally inhibiting NPM1-ALK expression. 1792 9

DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that plays a critical role in the repression of gene expression. Here, we show that DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibition in hippocampal neurons results in activity-dependent demethylation of genomic DNA and a parallel decrease in the frequency of miniature EPSCs (mEPSCs), which in turn impacts neuronal excitability and network activity. Treatment with DNMT inhibitors reveals an activity-driven demethylation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor promoter I, which is mediated by synaptic activation of NMDA receptors, because it is susceptible to AP-5, a blocker of NMDA receptors. The specific effect of DNMT inhibition on spontaneous excitatory neurotransmission requires gene transcription and is occluded in the absence of the transcriptional repressor methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2). Interestingly, enhancing excitatory activity, in the absence of DNMT inhibitors, also produces similar decreases in DNA methylation and mEPSC frequency, suggesting a role for DNA methylation in the control of homeostatic synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, adding excess substrate for DNA methylation (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) rescues the suppression of mEPSCs by DNMT inhibitors in wild-type neurons, as well as the defect seen in MeCP2-deficient neurons. These results uncover a means by which NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic activity drives DNA demethylation within mature neurons and suppresses basal synaptic function.
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PMID:Activity-dependent suppression of miniature neurotransmission through the regulation of DNA methylation. 1818 82

Nickel (Ni) compounds are potent carcinogens and can induce malignant transformation of rodent and human cells. To uncover the molecular mechanisms of nickel sulfide (NiS)-induced cell transformation, we investigated epigenetic alterations in a set of DNA repair genes. The silencing of the O(6)-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene locus and upregulation of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) expression was specifically detected in NiS-transformed human bronchial epithelial (16HBE) cells. In addition, we noted epigenetic alterations including DNA hypermethylation, reduced histone H4 acetylation and a decrease in the ratio of Lys-9 acetylated/methylated histone H3 at the MGMT CpG island in NiS-transformed 16HBE cells. Meanwhile, we identified concurrent binding of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, methylated DNA-binding domain protein 2 and DNMT1 to the CpG island of the MGMT promoter, demonstrating that these components collaborate to maintain MGMT methylation in NiS-transformed cells. Moreover, depletion of DNMT1 by introduction of a small hairpin RNA construct into NiS-transformed cells resulted in a 30% inhibition of cell proliferation and led to increased MGMT gene expression by reversion of the epigenetic modifications at the MGMT promoter region. MGMT suppression and hypermethylation at the CpG island of the MGMT promoter occurred 6 days after NiS treatment, indicating that epigenetic modifications of MGMT might be an early event in tumorigenesis. Taken together, these observations demonstrate that epigenetic silencing of MGMT is associated with DNA hypermethylation, histone modifications and DNMT1 upregulation, which contribute to NiS-induced malignant transformation.
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PMID:Epigenetic silencing of O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase gene in NiS-transformed cells. 1820 74

The maintenance of the cellular epigenomic landscape, which depends on the status of the one-carbon metabolic pathway, is essential for normal central nervous system development and function. In the present study, we examined the epigenetic alterations in the brains of Fisher 344 rats induced by the long-term administration of a diet lacking of essential one-carbon nutrients, methionine, choline, and folic acid. The results demonstrated that feeding a folate/methyl-deficient diet causes global DNA hypermethylation as indicated by an increase of genomic 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine (5mdC) content and more importantly, by an increase of methylation within unmethylated CpG-rich DNA domains. Interestingly, these epigenetic changes were opposite to those observed in the livers of the same folate/methyl-deficient rats. The hypermethylation changes were associated with an increased protein expression of de novo DNA methyltransferase DNMT3a and methyl-CpG-binding protein 2. Additionally, the gene expression profiling identified 33 significantly up- or down-regulated genes (fold change > or =1.5 and p< or =0.05) in the brains of rats fed a folate/methyl-deficient diet for 36 weeks. Interestingly, we detected an up-regulation of regulatory factor X, 3 (Rfx3) gene, a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein, that mediates the transcriptional activation of silenced by methylation genes, which may be an adaptive protective brain response to hypermethylation. Together, these data suggest that the proper maintenance of the epigenomic landscape in normal brain depends on the adequate supply of essential nutrients involved in the metabolism of methyl groups.
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PMID:Epigenetic alterations in the brains of Fisher 344 rats induced by long-term administration of folate/methyl-deficient diet. 1869 33

Spatial organisation of DNA into chromatin profoundly affects gene expression and function. The recent association of genes controlling chromatin structure to human pathologies resulted in a better comprehension of the interplay between regulation and function. Among many chromatin disorders we will discuss Rett and immunodeficiency, centromeric instability and facial anomalies (ICF) syndromes. Both diseases are caused by defects related to DNA methylation machinery, with Rett syndrome affecting the transduction of the repressive signal from the methyl CpG binding protein prototype, MeCP2, and ICF syndrome affecting the genetic control of DNA methylation, by the DNA methyltransferase DNMT3B. Rather than listing survey data, our aim is to highlight how a deeper comprehension of gene regulatory web may arise from studies of such pathologies. We also maintain that fundamental studies may offer chances for a therapeutic approach focused on these syndromes, which, in turn, may become paradigmatic for this increasing class of diseases.
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PMID:Lessons from two human chromatin diseases, ICF syndrome and Rett syndrome. 1878 50

The epigenetic down-regulation of genes is emerging as a possible underlying mechanism of the GABAergic neuron dysfunction in schizophrenia. For example, evidence has been presented to show that the promoters associated with reelin and GAD67 are down-regulated as a consequence of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT)-mediated hypermethylation. Using neuronal progenitor cells to study this regulation, we have previously demonstrated that DNMT inhibitors coordinately increase reelin and GAD67 mRNAs. Here, we report that another group of epigenetic drugs, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, activate these two genes with dose and time dependence comparable with that of DNMT inhibitors. In parallel, both groups of drugs decrease DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B protein levels and reduce DNMT enzyme activity. Furthermore, induction of the reelin and GAD67 mRNAs is accompanied by the dissociation of repressor complexes containing all three DNMTs, MeCP2, and HDAC1 from the corresponding promoters and by increased local histone acetylation. Our data imply that drug-induced promoter demethylation is relevant for maximal activation of reelin and GAD67 transcription. The results suggest that HDAC and DNMT inhibitors activate reelin and GAD67 expression through similar mechanisms. Both classes of drugs attenuate, directly or indirectly, the enzymatic and transcriptional repressor activities of DNMTs and HDACs. These data provide a mechanistic rationale for the use of epigenetic drugs, individually or in combination, as a potential novel therapeutic strategy to alleviate deficits associated with schizophrenia.
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PMID:The reelin and GAD67 promoters are activated by epigenetic drugs that facilitate the disruption of local repressor complexes. 1902 85


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