title: Identification of methylated deoxyadenosines in vertebrates reveals diversity in DNA modifications.
abstract: Methylation of cytosine deoxynucleotides generates 5-methylcytosine (m(5)dC), a well-established epigenetic mark. However, in higher eukaryotes much less is known about modifications affecting other deoxynucleotides. Here, we report the detection of N(6)-methyldeoxyadenosine (m(6)dA) in vertebrate DNA, specifically in Xenopus laevis but also in other species including mouse and human. Our methylome analysis reveals that m(6)dA is widely distributed across the eukaryotic genome and is present in different cell types but is commonly depleted from gene exons. Thus, direct DNA modifications might be more widespread than previously thought.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge.|Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge.
authors.forename: Magdalena J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Koziol
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge.
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bradshaw
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge.
authors.forename: George E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre.
authors.forename: Ana S H
authors.initials: ASH
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frezza
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge.|Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge.
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gurdon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019175:DNA Methylation; D003839:Deoxyadenosines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015265:Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific) / Q000378:metabolism*; D014714:Vertebrates
chemical_list: D003839:Deoxyadenosines; D015265:Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific)