DNA methylation increases nucleosome compaction and rigidity

J Am Chem Soc. 2010 Feb 17;132(6):1782-3. doi: 10.1021/ja910264z.

Abstract

Cytosine methylation on CpG dinucleotides is an essential epigenetic modification in eukaryotes. How DNA methylation modulates nucleosome structure and dynamics has been a long-standing question. We implemented a single-molecule method to monitor the effects of DNA methylation on the structure and dynamics of mononucleosomes. Our studies show that DNA methylation induces a more compact and rigid nucleosome structure, providing a physical basis for how DNA methylation might contribute to regulating chromatin structure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • CpG Islands
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Nucleosomes / chemistry*
  • Nucleosomes / metabolism*

Substances

  • Nucleosomes
  • DNA