title: Real-time monitoring of DNA methyltransferase activity using a hemimethylated smart probe.
abstract: A real-time assay for DNA methyltransferase (MTase) activity has been developed. A hemimethylated smart probe is used as the substrate for DNA MTase. Cleavage of the methylated product leads to separation of fluorophore from quencher, giving a proportional increase in fluorescence. The method permits real-time monitoring of DNA methylation process and makes it easy to characterize the activity of DNA MTase. It also has the potential to screen suitable inhibitor drugs for DNA MTase.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics & School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
authors.forename: Shunxin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics & School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
authors.forename: Haisheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics & School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics & School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha 410081, China. Electronic address: macb2012@csu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Changbei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics & School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
authors.forename: Hailun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha 410081, China.
authors.forename: Kemin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D003199:Computer Systems; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015265:Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific) / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; C058693:Dam methyltransferase; D015265:Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific)
keywords: DNA methyltransferase; Hemimethylated; Real-time monitoring; Smart probe