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. 1980 Dec 1;191(3):859–862. doi: 10.1042/bj1910859

Methylation of nuclear DNA in Physarum polycephalum.

P A Whittaker, N Hardman
PMCID: PMC1162287  PMID: 6269534

Abstract

The restriction endonucleases HpaII and HhaI, whose action is inhibited by the presence of methylated base analogues at the recognition sequences in the DNA substrate, were used to investigate the distribution of 5-methylcytosine in nuclear DNA from Physarum polycephalum. Physarum DNA is digested into two fractions by these enzymes: a low-molecular-weight (M--) compartment comprising 80% of the DNA, and a high-molecular-weight (M+) compartment containing 20% of the DNA. The DNA fraction showing resistance to digestion by restriction endonuclease HpaII is cleaved by its isoschizomer MspI, indicating that methylated endonuclease-HpaII-specific sites are present in M + DNA. Additional properties of sequences in the M+ compartment were investigated.

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Selected References

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