Macronuclear DNA demethylation is involved in the encystment process of the ciliate Colpoda inflata.
Ciliate encystment is an eukaryotic cell differentiation process which involves a specific gene expression, to form the resting stage. In this study, we investigate, for first time, the DNA methylation pattern changes during encystment in the ciliate Colpoda inflata, and the 5-azacytidine effect on growing cells and encystment. Results indicate that 5-methylcytosine is present in macronuclear DNA of this ciliate and the 5-azacytidine treatment induces encystment in growth conditions. From restriction enzyme digestion and 5-azacytidine experiments, we conclude that a specific DNA demethylation is probably involved in the encystment gene expression of this ciliate.
Palacios
G
G
Departamento de Microbiología-III, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense (UCM), Madrid, Spain.
Martin-Gonzalez
A
A
Gutierrez
J C
JC
D000818:Animals; D001374:Azacitidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D008745:Methylation / Q000187:drug effects; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D016800:Trichostomatida / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D001374:Azacitidine