In vitro enzymatic methylation of DNA substituted by N-2-aminofluorene.
Both the initial velocity and the overall methylation of DNA substituted by aminofluorene, by a rat liver DNA(cytosine-5-)-methyltransferase, are increased as compared to native DNA. The Km and Vmax of the modified DNA for the enzyme increase as a function of the extent of modification. The carcinogen may induce a secondary structure favouring the 'walking' of the enzyme along the DNA. The hypermethylation caused by this carcinogen could have a significance in gene activity, cellular differentiation and cancer induction.
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008745:Methylation
D005449:Fluorenes; C012177:2-aminofluorene; D004247:DNA; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases