title: mRNA levels and methylation patterns of the tyrosine aminotransferase gene in aging inbred rats.
abstract: We have examined the mRNA levels and methylation patterns of the liver-specific tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) gene in inbred female rats aged 6, 24 and 36 months. Northern hybridization analysis of total RNA showed a 65% decrease in the steady state transcript level of TAT in the liver of 24- and 36-month old rats as compared to 6-month old animals. The TAT gene as studied by Southern hybridization analysis using the isoschizomers Hpa II and Msp I was found to be hypomethylated in the liver as compared to spleen and brain at six CpG sites within the gene. Methylation at these sites remained unchanged during aging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, TNO Institute for Experimental Gerontology, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Slagboom
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: de Leeuw
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vijg
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015870:Gene Expression; D005796:Genes; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology; D008745:Methylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D014444:Tyrosine Transaminase / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014444:Tyrosine Transaminase