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. 1992 Jun 25;20(12):3207–3210. doi: 10.1093/nar/20.12.3207

The distribution of 5-methylcytosine in the nuclear genome of plants.

L M Montero 1, J Filipski 1, P Gil 1, J Capel 1, J M Martínez-Zapater 1, J Salinas 1
PMCID: PMC312460  PMID: 1620618

Abstract

We have determined the 5-methylcytosine (5mC) content in high molecular weight DNA, from two dicot (tobacco and pea) and two monocot (wheat and maize) plant species, fractionated according to base composition. The results show that the proportion of 5mC in the genomic fractions increases linearly with their guanine + cytosine (G + C) content while the proportion of non-methylated cytosine remains almost constant. This can be interpreted as a consequence of a difference in mutation pressure related to spontaneous deamination of 5mC to thymine between the different compartments of plant genomes.

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Selected References

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