Identification of a novel DNA methyltransferase 2 from the brine shrimp, Artemia franciscana.
DNA methyltransferase 2 (Dnmt2) is a dual-specificity DNA methyltransferase, which contains a weak DNA methyltransferase and novel tRNA methyltransferase activity. However, its biological function is still enigmatic. To elucidate the expression profiles of Dnmt2 in Artemia franciscana, we isolated the gene encoding a Dnmt2 from A. franciscana and named it as AfDnmt2. The cDNA of AfDnmt2 contained a 1140-bp open reading frame that encoded a putative Dnmt2 protein of 379 amino acids exhibiting 32% approximately 39% identities with other known Dnmt2 homologs. This is the first report of a DNA methyltransferase gene in Crustacean. By using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, AfDnmt2 was found to be expressed through all developmental stages and its expression increased during resumption of diapause cysts development. Southern blot analysis indicated the presence of multiple copies of AfDnmt2 genes in A. franciscana.
Feng
Chen-Zhuo
CZ
Institute of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China.
Zhu
Xiao-Jing
XJ
Dai
Zhong-Min
ZM
Liu
Feng-Qi
FQ
Xiang
Jian-Hai
JH
Yang
Wei-Jun
WJ
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001156:Artemia / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D015870:Gene Expression; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D017931:DNA Primers; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases