Abstract
DNA-methylation patterns are important for regulating genome functions, and are determined by the enzymatic processes of methylation and demethylation. The demethylating enzyme has now been identified: a mammalian complementary DNA encodes a methyl-CpG-binding domain, bears a demethylase activity that transforms methylated cytosine bases to cytosine, and demethylates a plasmid when the cDNA is translated or transiently transfected into human embryonal kidney cells in vitro. The discovery of this DNA demethylase should provide a basis for the molecular and developmental analysis of the role of DNA methylation and demethylation.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Catalysis
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Cells, Cultured
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Cloning, Molecular
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Cytosine / metabolism
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DNA / metabolism*
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DNA Methylation
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DNA, Complementary
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Dinucleoside Phosphates / metabolism*
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HeLa Cells
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Humans
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Methanol / metabolism
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Mice
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Oxidoreductases, O-Demethylating / genetics
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Oxidoreductases, O-Demethylating / isolation & purification*
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Oxidoreductases, O-Demethylating / metabolism
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
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Substrate Specificity
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Transfection
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Tumor Cells, Cultured
Substances
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DNA, Complementary
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Dinucleoside Phosphates
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cytidylyl-3'-5'-guanosine
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Cytosine
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DNA
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Oxidoreductases, O-Demethylating
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methyl-CpG DNA demethylase
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Methanol