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Effect of modification by N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene on the level of DNA methylation

Nature volume 278, pages 71–72 (1979)Cite this article

Abstract

DNA METHYLATION in prokaryotes as well as in eukaryotes is a widely distributed phenomenon but its biological role is still unknown. In prokaryotes, DNA methylation has been related to restriction recognition mechanisms1,2; no such correlation has yet been found in eukaryotes. Some investigators have suggested that cell differentiation and embryogenesis might be related to DNA methylation3–5. The recent results obtained by Christman et al.6 indicating that inhibition of DNA methylation may promote the differentiation and expression of globin genes in Friend erythroleukaemia cells, support this theory. In their observations, inhibition of DNA methylation was obtained after treatment of the cells with the methionine analogue L-ethionine which is also a carcinogen. We have used another approach where the change of levels of in vitro 5-methyl-3H-cytosine formation in DNA following DNA modification with a carcinogen is observed. We have chosen N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene (N- AcO-AAF) which reacts covalently in vitro and in vivo with nucleic acids and proteins7–9 and which, after administration to animals, induces tumours10.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biochimie, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, 15 rue Descartes, 67000, Strasbourg, France

    C. E. SALAS, A. PFOHL-LESZKOWICZ & G. DIRHEIMER

  2. Also at: Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Louis Pasteur, 3 rue de l'Argonne, Strasbourg, France

    A. PFOHL-LESZKOWICZ & G. DIRHEIMER

  3. Laboratoire de Biophysique, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, 15 rue Descartes, 67000, Strasbourg, France

    M. C. LANG

Authors
  1. C. E. SALAS
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  2. A. PFOHL-LESZKOWICZ
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  3. G. DIRHEIMER
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  4. M. C. LANG
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SALAS, C., PFOHL-LESZKOWICZ, A., DIRHEIMER, G. et al. Effect of modification by N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene on the level of DNA methylation. Nature 278, 71–72 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/278071a0

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