Chromatin structure of endogenous retroviral genes and activation by an inhibitor of DNA methylation.
The transcriptionally active ev-3 and inactive ev-1 endogenous retrovirus loci in chick cells differ in that ev-3 is undermethylated, preferentially sensitive to DNase I digestion, and contains nuclease hypersensitive sites in each of its two long terminal repeats. Transient exposure of cells to 5-azacytidine, a cytosine analogue which cannot be methylated at the 5 position, results in the hypomethylation and transcriptional activation of ev-1, as well as the acquisition of at least one nuclease-hypersensitive site within the chromosomal domain of ev-1.
D000818:Animals; D001374:Azacitidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002843:Chromatin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D004720:Endonucleases; D008745:Methylation; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
D002843:Chromatin; D004247:DNA; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D004720:Endonucleases; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I; D001374:Azacitidine