DNA methylation decreases in aging but not in immortal cells.
When normal diploid fibroblasts from mice, hamsters, and humans were grown in culture, the 5-methylcytosine content of their DNA's markedly decreased. The greatest rate of loss of 5-methylcytosine residues was observed in mouse cells, which survived the least number of division. Immortal mouse cell lines had more stable rates of methylation.
D044503:5-Methylcytosine; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D003596:Cytosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008647:Mesocricetus; D008745:Methylation; D051379:Mice; D013997:Time Factors
D044503:5-Methylcytosine; D003596:Cytosine; D004247:DNA