社会性昆虫中的功能性CpG甲基化系统。

Functional CpG methylation system in a social insect.

作者信息

Wang Ying, Jorda Mireia, Jones Peter L, Maleszka Ryszard, Ling Xu, Robertson Hugh M, Mizzen Craig A, Peinado Miguel A, Robinson Gene E

机构信息

Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.

出版信息

Science. 2006 Oct 27;314(5799):645-7. doi: 10.1126/science.1135213.

DOI:10.1126/science.1135213

PMID:17068262

Abstract

DNA methylation systems are well characterized in vertebrates, but methylation in Drosophila melanogaster and other invertebrates remains controversial. Using the recently sequenced honey bee genome, we present a bioinformatic, molecular, and biochemical characterization of a functional DNA methylation system in an insect. We report on catalytically active orthologs of the vertebrate DNA methyltransferases Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a and b, two isoforms that contain a methyl-DNA binding domain, genomic 5-methyl-deoxycytosine, and CpG-methylated genes. The honey bee provides an opportunity to study the roles of methylation in social contexts.

摘要

DNA甲基化系统在脊椎动物中已得到充分表征，但在黑腹果蝇和其他无脊椎动物中的甲基化仍存在争议。利用最近测序的蜜蜂基因组，我们对一种昆虫中功能性DNA甲基化系统进行了生物信息学、分子和生化表征。我们报道了脊椎动物DNA甲基转移酶Dnmt1和Dnmt3a及b的催化活性直系同源物，这两种亚型包含一个甲基化DNA结合结构域、基因组5-甲基脱氧胞嘧啶和CpG甲基化基因。蜜蜂为研究甲基化在社会环境中的作用提供了一个机会。