Subtelomeric DNA methylation and telomere length in human cancer cells.
Subtelomeric epigenetic modifications are known to be associated with telomere length. We examined subtelomeric DNA methylation at seven sites for five chromosomes by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and two sites for two chromosomes by bisulfite genomic sequencing (BGS) in 20 human cancer cell lines and subsequently analyzed their association with telomere length. Full-methylation (55/140) was more frequently found compared to un-methylation (35/140) (p=0.01). Subtelomeric-methylation patterns varied from region to region; full-methylation and un-methylation were dominant at one of 9q sites (20/20) and 9p (18/20), respectively. MSP and BGS data exhibited no apparent correlation between methylation status and telomere length. In addition, Hep3B subclones that possessed different telomere lengths exhibited no changes in methylation status according to telomeres. In summary, subtelomeres might form distinct chromatin structures from region to region and effect of subtelomeric DNA methylation on telomere regulation might be little.
Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemun-ku, Seoul, South Korea.
Myung Eun
ME
Lee
Sun Young
SY
Rha
Hei-Cheul
HC
Jeung
Hyun Cheol
HC
Chung
Bong-Kyeong
BK
Oh
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013447:Sulfites / Q000494:pharmacology; D016615:Telomere / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D006570:Heterochromatin; D013447:Sulfites; C042345:hydrogen sulfite