Cloning of Cytosine N4-methyltransferases from Marine Alphabacteria

Abstract

DNA methylation is involved in a diversity of processes in bacteria, including maintenance of genome integrity and regulation of gene expression. CcrM, the DNA methyltransferase conserved in Alphaproteobacterial species, has N6-Adenine or N4-cytosine methyltransferase activities using S-adenosyl methionine as a co-substrate. Methylation patterns of Celeribacter marinus IMCC12053 and Novosphingobium pentaromativorans US6-1 were compared. Both strains have been observed to change adenosine of 5-GANTC-3’as N6-methyladenosine, and N4-cytosine of 5-CpG-3’(IMCC12053) and 5-GpC-3’(US6-1) as N4-methylcytosine. Using phylogenetic analysis exocylic DNA methyltransferases from both of the species were chosen for cloning. In this study cloned exocyclic exocyclic DNA methylases are presented, and the potential use of novel type of CpG and GpC methylases in molecular biology and epigenetics.4-cytosine methyltransferase activities using S-adenosyl methionine as a co-substrate. Methylation patterns of Celeribacter marinus IMCC12053 and Novosphingobium pentaromativorans US6-1 were compared. Both strains have been observed to change adenosine of 5-GANTC-3’as N6-methyladenosine, and N4-cytosine of 5-CpG-3’(IMCC12053) and 5-GpC-3’(US6-1) as N4-methylcytosine. Using phylogenetic analysis exocylic DNA methyltransferases from both of the species were chosen for cloning. In this study cloned exocyclic exocyclic DNA methylases are presented, and the potential use of novel type of CpG and GpC methylases in molecular biology and epigenetics.