Methylated bases of Bacillus megaterium KM nucleic acids: comparison with Escherichia coli

Function of m6A and its regulation of domesticated animals' complex traits

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most functionally important epigenetic modification in RNA. The m6A modification widely exists in mRNA and noncoding RNA, influences the mRNA processing, and regulates the secondary structure and maturation of noncoding RNA. Studies showed the important regulatory roles of m6A modification in animal's complex traits, such as development, immunity, and reproduction-related traits. As an important intermediate stage from animal genome to phenotype, the function of m6A in the complex trait formation of domestic animals cannot be neglected. This review discusses recent research advances on m6A modification in well-studied organisms, such as human and model organisms, and introduces m6A detection technologies, small-molecule inhibitors of m6A-related enzymes, interaction between m6A and other biological progresses, and the regulation mechanisms of m6A in domesticated animals' complex traits.

DNA methylation in thermophilic bacteria: N4-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, and N6-methyladenine

While determining the minor and major base composition of the DNA from 17 types of thermophilic bacteria by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of enzymatic digests, we have discovered a novel base, N4-methylcytosine (m4C). Its structure was proven by comparison of the DNA-derived nucleoside to the analogous authentic compound by HPLC, UV spectroscopy, and mass spectroscopy. Eight of the bacterial DNAs contained m4C. Only two contained the common minor base, 5-methylcytosine (m5C), and neither of these was from an extreme thermophile. The other prevalent modified base of bacterial DNA, N6-methyladenine (m6A), was found in nine of the DNAs. Restriction analysis revealed that four of the DNAs had dam-type (Gm6ATC) methylation patterns. Due to the propensity of m5C residues to be deaminated by heat to thymine residues and to inefficient repair of the resulting mismatched base pairs, thermophiles with optimal growth temperatures of greater than or equal to 60 degrees C generally may avoid having m5C in their genomes. Instead, some of them have deamination-resistant m4C residues.

Studies on the substrate specificity of the DNA methylase activity from Escherichia coli K-12

A partially purified extract of DNA methylases from E. coli K-12 containing DNA-adenine as well as DNA-cytosine methylase activities has been examined with respect to different DNA species as substrates. The results show that the natural content of 6-MAP) in the applied DNA represses the DNA-adenine methylase activity. On the other hand, 5-MC, already present in the substrate does not influence the activity of the DNA-cytosine methylase. DNA from Micrococcus radiodurans, which is completely free of methylated bases served as comparison. Since netropsin preferentially binds to AT-rich regions of DNA, the influence of this oligopeptide antibiotic on the methylation of DNA was investigated. As expected the antibiotic predominantly inhibits adenine methylation of DNA. The degree of inhibition depends on the molar ratio of netropsin to DNA phosphate.

Immunochemical detection of minor bases in nucleic acids

Rabbits immunized with bovine serum albumin conjugates of 5-bromouracil, 5-iodouracil, and 6-methyladenosine produced antibodies specific for the bases. These antibodies were used to detect immunochemically 5-bromouracil and 6-methyladenosine in denatured DNA.

Selenomethionine, a methyl donor for bacterial nucleic acids

dl-Selenomethionine is as efficient a methyl donor for nucleic acid methylation in both Bacillus megaterium KM and Escherichia coli WWU as dl-methionine.

Effect of Selenomethionine on Growth of Escherichia coli and Bacillus megaterium

Studies with methionineless strains of Escherichia coli WWU and Bacillus megaterium KM have shown that selenomethionine only partially satisfies their methionine requirement.