Growth conditions influence DNA methylation in cultured cerebellar granule cells.
Growth conditions influenced DNA methylation in cultured cerebellar granule cells, as indicated by immunocytochemical analysis with monoclonal antibodies raised against 5-methylcytidine. In cultures grown under suboptimal conditions, i.e. in medium containing 10 instead of 25 mM K+, a substantial reduction in both the number of immunopositive cells and the intensity of immunostaining occurred at 4 days in vitro (DIV), a time which preceded the appearance of the morphological features of apoptosis. These results suggest that a reduction in DNA methylation is one of the biochemical events associated with the 'condemned phase' of apoptosis, in which granule cells grown under suboptimal conditions become committed to death.
Bertino
L
L
Institute of Biochemical and Pharmacological Sciences, School of Biology, University of Catania, Italy.
Ruffini
M C
MC
Copani
A
A
Bruno
V
V
Raciti
G
G
Cambria
A
A
Nicoletti
F
F
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D003562:Cytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
D002843:Chromatin; D003470:Culture Media; D003562:Cytidine; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D011188:Potassium; C016568:5-methylcytidine