Paracentrotus lividus Genes in Development: DNA MTase

DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase (DNA MTase)

Function

DNA MTases are the enzymes involved in the modification of the C-5 position of cytosines in the DNA. It is a particularly interesting group of proteins for the implications of DNA methylations in the control of gene expression in eukaryotes (Aniello et al., 1996).

Protein

DNA MTase open reading frame potentially encodes a protein of 1612 aa residues with the molecular mass of 181 kDa.
The putative enzyme sequence shows about 110 additional aa residues at the N-terminus not found in the enzymes of other organisms (Aniello et al., 1996).
GenBank: 2133776

Subcellular location

Expression Pattern

Nothern blot analysis revealed a single 7.5-kb RNA band.
It is present at low level in the unfertilized eggs and at a much higher concentration immediately after fertilization with peak value at the 4-blastomere stage.
The concentration decreases at later stages until morula and is nearly zero at the blastula stage.
The transcript is again present at a low concentration at the young gastrula stage and the amount is nearly constant at all later stages (Aniello et al., 1996).

mRNA level

Temporal accumulation
Method: Nothern blot analysis
Reference: Aniello et al., 1996

Stage Unfertilized egg 2 blastomeres 4 blastomeres 8 blastomeres 64-128 blastomeres Morula Young blastula Mesenchymal blastula Young gastrula Prism Pluteus

Stage + - + + + + + + + + - - + - + - + -

Sequences

GenBank:

7170 bp mRNA

Regulatory Regions

Regions

Regulatory Connections

Upstream Genes

DNA MTase

Downstream Genes

Evolutionary Homologues

DNA MTase H. sapiens
DNA MTase Mouse
DNA MTase Chicken

Bibliography

UrchiNet

Stage	Unfertilized egg	2 blastomeres	4 blastomeres	8 blastomeres	64-128 blastomeres	Morula	Young blastula	Mesenchymal blastula	Young gastrula	Prism	Pluteus
Stage	+ -	+ +	+ +	+ +	+	+	-	-	+ -	+ -	+ -