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. 1998 Sep 1;26(17):3961–3966. doi: 10.1093/nar/26.17.3961

Cloning, characterization and expression of the gene coding for a cytosine-5-DNA methyltransferase recognizing GpC.

M Xu 1, M P Kladde 1, J L Van Etten 1, R T Simpson 1
PMCID: PMC147793  PMID: 9705505

Abstract

A novel gene encoding a cytosine-5-DNA methyltransferase recognizing the dinucleotide GpC was cloned from Chlorella virus NYs-1 and expressed in both Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The gene was sequenced and a predicted polypeptide of 362 amino acids with a molecular weight of 41.903 kDa was identified. The protein contains several amino acid motifs with high similarity to those of other known 5-methylcytosine-forming methyltransferases. In addition, this enzyme, named M. Cvi PI, shares 66% identity and 76% similarity with M. Cvi JI, the only other cytosine-5-DNA methyltransferase cloned from a Chlorella virus. The short, frequently occurring recognition sequence of the new methyltransferase will be very useful for in vivo chromatin structure studies in both yeast and higher organisms.

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Selected References

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