DNA methylation increases nucleosome compaction and rigidity.
Cytosine methylation on CpG dinucleotides is an essential epigenetic modification in eukaryotes. How DNA methylation modulates nucleosome structure and dynamics has been a long-standing question. We implemented a single-molecule method to monitor the effects of DNA methylation on the structure and dynamics of mononucleosomes. Our studies show that DNA methylation induces a more compact and rigid nucleosome structure, providing a physical basis for how DNA methylation might contribute to regulating chromatin structure.
Choy
John S
JS
Department of Physics, Bio-X Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Wei
Sijie
S
Lee
Ju Yeon
JY
Tan
Song
S
Chu
Steven
S
Lee
Tae-Hee
TH
D001483:Base Sequence; D018899:CpG Islands; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
D009707:Nucleosomes; D004247:DNA