DNA methylation in chicken brain and liver

Summary Adult chicken brain DNA is subject to a developmental alteration of methylation atHpaII sites flanking 4, 1, 0.8 and 0.7 kilobase sequences. This change is not evident in adult chicken liver DNA and 1-day-old chick brain and liver DNAs, suggesting tissue specificity and age-dependency in DNA methylation.     

DNA methylation in dedifferentiating plant pith tissue

Summary A dedifferentiating system in plant tissue (Nicotiana glauca pith tissue grown in vitro) is described, where DNA amplification was demonstrated both cytologically and biochemically. In this system a DNA statellite is synthesized and reaches its maximum around 48 h of culture. This satellite is highly methylated and there are 2 methylation and there are 2 methylation peaks around 24 and 72 h of culture. The results are discussed in relation to recent evidence of the involvement of methylation in differentiation processes.     

DNA methylation in chicken brain and liver

Adult chicken brain DNA is subject to a developmental alteration of methylation at HpaII sites flanking 4, 1, 0.8 and 0.7 kilobase sequences. This change is not evident in adult chicken liver DNA and 1-day-old chick brain and liver DNAs, suggesting tissue specificity and age-dependency in DNA methylation.     

Morphological evidence for the presence of the endogenous guinea-pig retravirus in the lymphoblasts of L2C leukemia.

Peripheral blood samples of a transplantable guinea-pig leukemia revealed that, only during the terminal stages of the disease, leukemic cells produce virus particles indistinguishable from the RNA tumor viruses of the Retraviridae family genus Oncorna virus B.     

DNA methylation of fly genes and transposons

The use of anti-5-methylcytosine antibodies in affinity columns allowed the identification of methylated sequences in the genome of Drosophila melanogaster adults. In view of the presence of transposable elements amongst the identified sequences, it has been suggested that DNA methylation is involved in transposon control in the fly genome. On the contrary, a reanalysis of these data furnishes several intriguing elements that could raise new questions about the role that DNA methylation plays in the fly genome. The aim of the present paper is to discuss some features that emerge from the analysis of the identified methylated sequences. Received 26 January 2006; received after revision 8 May 2006; accepted 2 June 2006     

Morphological evidence for the presence of the endogenous guinea-pig retravirus in the lymphoblasts of L2C leukemia

Summary Peripheral blood samples of a transplantable guinea-pig leukemia revealed that, only during the terminal stages of the disease, leukemic cells produce virus particles indistinguishable from the RNA tumor viruses of the Retraviridae family genusOncorna virus B.This study was supported partly by the Israel Cancer Association.     

Heterogeneity of HeLa cell DNA as evidenced by CsCl density gradient centrifugation

Summary HeLa cell DNA was analyzed through CsCl density gradient centrifugation and thermal denaturation. Neutral centrifugation without ionic treatment allowed the resolution of a main peak with density 1.699 g/ml and of 3 satellites DNAs with densities 1.683, 1.710 and 1.720. First derivatives of melting curves showed the presence of 4 DNA families, whose G+C content calculated from T_m values corresponded almost exactly to the G+C content expected from the previously densities. The extraction method seems particularly suitable for quantitative separation of DNA classes.     

Biological aspects of cytosine methylation in eukaryotic cells.

The existence in eukaryotes of a fifth base, 5-methylcytosine, and of tissue-specific methylation patterns have been known for many years, but except for a general association with inactive genes and chromatin the exact function of this DNA modification has remained elusive. The different hypotheses regarding the role of DNA methylation in regulation of gene expression, chromatin structure, development, and diseases, including cancer are summarized, and the experimental evidence for them is discussed. Structural and functional properties of the eukaryotic DNA cytosine methyltransferase are also reviewed.     

DNA synthesis in the nuclei of differentiating muscle fibers of the silkworm,Bombyx mori L.

Summary Incorporation of³H-thymidine (³HTdr) into the nuclei of myofibril-containing myofibers of larvae of the silkworm,Bombyx mori, was shown by means of light microscope (LM) and electron-microscope (EM) autoradiography. The number of DNA-synthesizing myonuclei attains 42% 12–18 h after each molt. Thus in the developing silkworm DNA replication and myofibrillogenesis are coexisting and not mutually exclusive processes as is the rule in vertebrate somatic myogenesis.     

Interstrain variation of murine arylsulfatase C.

A method has been developed for the assay of arylsulfatase C in tissue extracts containing arylsulfatases A and B. Significant variation of enzyme activity was observed among 26 inbred murine strains. Activity differences were apparent at all stages evaluated between 1 and 70 days postnatal age. Arylsulfatase C from representative high- and low-activity strains exhibited similar Michaelis constants, temperature optima, pH optima, thermostabilities and inhibitor profiles.     

A mitochondrial DNA polymorphism in honeybees (Apis mellifera L.)

Summary Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), isolated from worker honeybee larvae, was digested by each of seven 6-base restriction enzymes. Only one enzyme (BglII) showed a mtDNA difference between the three tested races (Apis mellifera carcia, A. m. ligustica, A.m. caucasica). BothA.m. carnica andA.m. ligustica showed the same pattern, differing fromA.m. caucasica. The degree of fragment pattern similarity revealed that there is only a small level of mtDNA variation between the three races tested. This is in line with previous investigations of enzyme polymorphisms.