DNA methylation: a molecular lock

Curr Biol. 1997 May 1;7(5):R305-7. doi: 10.1016/s0960-9822(06)00144-8.

Abstract

In mammals, the promoters of expressed genes are generally unmethylated, whereas those of genes that are not expressed are methylated. Two recent papers help to explain the mechanism by which methylation modulates gene expression.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Clocks
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone*
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Methylation*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Mammals
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2
  • Models, Structural
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Conformation
  • Repressor Proteins / chemistry
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • DNA