DNA methyltransferase gene dDnmt2 and longevity of Drosophila.
The DNA methylation program of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is carried out by the single DNA methyltransferase gene dDnmt2, the function of which is unknown before. We present evidence that intactness of the gene is required for maintenance of the normal life span of the fruit flies. In contrast, overexpression of dDnmt2 could extend Drosophila life span. The study links the Drosophila DNA methylation program with the small heatshock proteins and longevity/aging and has interesting implication on the eukaryotic DNA methylation programs in general.
Lin
Meng-Jau
MJ
Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Taiwan University, Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Tang
Lin-Ya
LY
Reddy
M Narsa
MN
Shen
C-K James
CK
D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C491784:Mt2 protein, Drosophila; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases