Infection with frog virus 3 allows transcription of DNA methylated at cytosine but not adenine residues.

The genome of the iridovirus, frog virus 3, is highly methylated at cytosine residues by a virus-encoded DNA methyltransferase. We have shown previously that an FV3-induced trans-acting protein alters either host RNA polymerase II or methylated template to allow transcription from promoters inactivated by methylation. We now present evidence that the ability of FV3-infected cells to transcribe methylated DNA is specific for DNA methylated at cytosine residues. Eukaryotic promoters were inactivated by methylation of either adenine or cytosine residues, and tested for transcriptional activity. Only promoters inactivated by cytosine methylation were transcribed in FV3-infected cells. We also show that the dinucleotide sequence in which the methylcytosine is found appears to have no effect on the ability of FV3 to trans-activate the methylated promoters.