title: Cis-elements required for the demethylation of the mouse M-lysozyme downstream enhancer.
abstract: The mouse lysozyme downstream enhancer was previously colocalized with the DNase I-hypersensitive site in the chromatin of mature macrophages. This hypersensitive site was shown to be macrophage differentiation-dependent. Demethylation of CpG sequences within the enhancer is correlated with lysozyme expression in mature macrophages. Binding of the GABP heterotetrameric transcription factor to the enhancer core element (MLDE), only seen in vivo on the demethylated MLDE element in macrophages, is inhibited by DNA methylation. Here, we analyzed the DNA sequences required for demethylation. In electrophoretic mobility shift experiments we found that in addition to the complete methylated MLDE the hemimethylated form of the lower strand inhibits GABP binding as well. Therefore, GABP is unlikely to be the mediator of demethylation. In addition, we show by stable DNA transfections of methylated mouse lysozyme enhancer sequences that MLDE-flanking sequences are required for demethylation. We narrowed down these DNA elements to two short regions of 163 and 79 base pairs on either side of the MLDE, each of which is sufficient to mediate demethylation of the GABP site.
authors.affiliation: Genetisches Institut, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58-62, D35392 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Short
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ammerpohl
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Asbrand
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nickel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Renkawitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003640:Dealkylation; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D051268:GA-Binding Protein Transcription Factor; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009113:Muramidase / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051268:GA-Binding Protein Transcription Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA; D009113:Muramidase