title: DNA methylation at the putative promoter region of the human dopamine D2 receptor gene.
abstract: DNA methylation was investigated in the putative promoter region of the human dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2). Twenty-two DNA samples from two types of cells differentially expressing D2 receptors, striatum and lymphocytes, were subjected to bisulphite modification-based mapping of methylated cytosines. In the tested region, the DNA from lymphocytes exhibited a significantly higher degree of methylation than that from striata. In addition, a significantly higher proportion of methylated to unmethylated cytosines was detected in DRD2 from the right than the left striatum, and a trend towards a greater degree of methylation was detected in older than in younger individuals. These DRD2 methylation findings are consistent with dopamine D2 receptor binding data from the literature which support the idea that DNA methylation plays a role in regulation of DRD2 expression.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Popendikyte
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laurinavicius
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Macciardi
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petronis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011699:Putamen / Q000378:metabolism; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D004247:DNA