Epigenetic regulation of the bacterial cell cycle.
N(6)-methyl-adenines can serve as epigenetic signals for interactions between regulatory DNA sequences and regulatory proteins that control cellular functions, such as the initiation of chromosome replication or the expression of specific genes. Several of these genes encode master regulators of the bacterial cell cycle. DNA adenine methylation is mediated by Dam in gamma-proteobacteria and by CcrM in alpha-proteobacteria. A major difference between them is that CcrM is cell cycle regulated, while Dam is active throughout the cell cycle. In alpha-proteobacteria, GANTC sites can remain hemi-methylated for a significant period of the cell cycle, depending on their location on the chromosome. In gamma-proteobacteria, most GATC sites are only transiently hemi-methylated, except regulatory GATC sites that are protected from Dam methylation by specific DNA-binding proteins.
Department of Fundamental Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Quartier UNIL/Sorge, Lausanne CH 1015, Switzerland. Justine.collier@unil.ch
Justine
J
Collier
D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D020561:Alphaproteobacteria / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D020563:Gammaproteobacteria / Q000502:physiology*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D011485:Protein Binding; D015265:Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific) / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D014157:Transcription Factors; C001020:N(6),N(6)-dimethyladenine; C098075:DNA modification methylase CcrM; C058693:Dam methyltransferase; D015265:Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific); D000225:Adenine