title: DNA methylation and gene function.
abstract: In most higher organisms, DNA is modified after synthesis by the enzymatic conversion of many cytosine residues to 5-methylcytosine. For several years, control of gene activity by DNA methylation has been recognized as a logically attractive possibility, but experimental support has proved elusive. However, there is now reason to believe, from recent studies, that DNA methylation is a key element in the hierarchy of control mechanisms that govern vertebrate gene function and differentiation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004247:DNA / Q000502:physiology*; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D003845:Deoxycytosine Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism*; D003852:Deoxyribonucleoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008745:Methylation; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011485:Protein Binding; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D003845:Deoxycytosine Nucleotides; D003852:Deoxyribonucleoproteins; D009707:Nucleosomes; D004247:DNA; D008780:Methyltransferases; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes