title: Methylation patterns in the gene for the alpha subunit of chorionic gonadotropin are inherited with variable fidelity in clonal lineages of human fibroblasts.
abstract: Cytosine methylation in DNA of an endogenous single-copy gene locus, the alpha-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (alpha-hCG), was assessed in a mass culture and individual clonal lineages of human diploid fibroblasts. Progressive hypomethylation at -CCGG- sites in this gene occurred during the replicative lifespan of the mass culture and was shown to arise randomly during clonal expansion. Thus, some clones and subclones lost -CCGG- methylation in the alpha-hCG gene region while others maintained essentially complete methylation. These data indicate significant interclonal variability in the fidelity with which DNA methylation is transmitted in an endogenous gene.
mesh_terms: D044503:5-Methylcytosine; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000235:genetics*; D003596:Cytosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D004261:DNA Replication; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D008745:Methylation
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D044503:5-Methylcytosine; D003596:Cytosine