title: DNA from Aspergillus flavus contains 5-methylcytosine.
abstract: DNA from Aspergillus sp. has been reported not to contain 5-methylcytosine. However, it has been found that Aspergillus nidulans responds to 5-azacytidine, a drug that is a strong inhibitor of DNA methyltransferases. Therefore, we have re-examined the occurrence of 5-methylcytosine in DNA from Aspergillus flavus by using a highly sensitive and specific method for detection of modified bases in genomic DNA comprising high-performance liquid chromatography separation of nucleosides, labeling of the nucleoside with deoxynucleoside kinase and two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. Our results show that 5-methylcytosine is present in DNA from A. flavus. We estimate the relative amounts of 5-methylcytosine to cytosine to be approximately 1/400.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie, FB 8, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58, 3392 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gowher
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jeltsch
mesh_terms: D044503:5-Methylcytosine; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000235:genetics*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000379:methods; D003596:Cytosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry*; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D044503:5-Methylcytosine; D003596:Cytosine; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); C020018:deoxyribonucleoside kinases