Skip to main content
Log in

Multiple DNA methyltransferase genes in Arabidopsis thaliana

  • Published:
Plant Molecular Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Methylation of plant DNA occurs at cytosines in any sequence context, and as the Arabidopsis methyltransferase, METI, preferentially methylates cytosines in CG dinucleotides, it is likely that Arabidopsis has other methyltransferases with different target specificities. We have identified five additional genes encoding putative DNA methyltransferases. Three of these genes are very similar to METI throughout the coding region; these genes probably arose by a series of gene duplication events, the most recent giving rise to METIIa and METIIb. METIIa and b are expressed at low levels in vegetative and floral organs and the level of transcripts is not affected by the introduction of a METI antisense transgene, nor do the METII enzymes substitute for the reduced activity of METI in methylating CG dinucleotides. METIII is not essential as it encodes a truncated protein. Two other genes encode a second class of DNA methyltransferase with the conserved motifs characteristic of cytosine methyltransferases, but with little homology to the METI-like methyltransferases through the remainder of the protein. These two methyltransferases are characterized by the presence of a chromodomain inserted within the methyltransferase domain, suggesting that they may be associated with heterochromatin. Both these genes are transcribed at low levels in vegetative and reproductive tissues.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aniello, F., Locascio, A., Fucci, L., Geraci, G. and Branno, M.1996 Isolation of cDNA clones encoding DNA methyltransferase of sea urchin P. lividus: expression during embryo development. Gene 178: 57–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernacchia, G., Primo, A., Giorgetti, L., Pitto, L. and Cella, R. 1998a. Carrot DNA-methyltransferase is encoded by two classes of genes with differing patterns of expression. Plant J. 13: 317–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernacchia, G., Para, A., Pedrali-Noy, G. and Cella, R. 1998b. Isolation of a cDNA coding for DNA methyltransferase from Lycopersicon esculentum. Plant Physiol. 116: 446.

  • Bestor, T.H.1992 Activation of mammalian DNA methyltransferase by cleavage of a Zn binding regulatory domain. EMBO J. 11: 2611–2617.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bestor, T., Laudano, A., Mattaliano, R. and Ingram, V.1988 Cloning and sequencing of a cDNA encoding DNA methyltransferase of mouse cells. J. Mol. Biol. 203: 971–983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bestor, T.H. and Verdine, G.L.1994 DNAmethyltransferases. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 6: 380–389.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, X., Kumar, S., Posfai, J., Pflugrath, J.W. and Roberts, R.J.1993 Crystal structure of the HhaI DNA methyltransferase complexed with S-adenosyl-L-methionine. Cell 74: 299–307.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finnegan, E.J. and Dennis, E.S.1993Isolation and identification by sequence homology of a putative cytosine methyltransferase from Arabidopsis thaliana. Nucl. Acids Res. 21: 2383–2388.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finnegan, E.J., Peacock, W.J. and Dennis, E.S.1996 Reduced DNA methylation in Arabidopsis thaliana results in abnormal plant development.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93: 8449–8454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finnegan, E.J., Genger, R.K., Peacock, W.J. and Dennis, E.S.1996 DNA methylation in plants. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 49: 223–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gruenbaum, Y., Naveh-Many, T., Cedar, H. and Razin, A.1981 Sequence specificity of methylation in higher plant DNA. Nature 292: 860–862.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haughn, G.W. and Somerville, C.R.1986 Sulfonurea-resistant mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana. Mol. Gen. Genet. 204: 430–434.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henikoff, S. and Comai, L.1998 A DNA methyltransferase homolog with a chromodomain exists in multiple polymorphic forms in Arabidopsis. Genetics 149: 307–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsen, S.E. and Meyerowitz, E.M.1997 Hypermethylated SUPERMAN epigenetic alleles in Arabidopsis. Science 277: 1100–1103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kakutani, T., Jeddeloh, J. and Richards, E.J.1995 Characterization of an Arabidopsis thaliana DNA hypomethylation mutant. Nucl. Acids Res. 23: 130–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimura, H., Ishihara, G. and Tajima, S.1996 Isolation and expression of a Xenopus laevis DNA methyltransferase cDNA. J. Biochem (Tokyo) 120: 1182–1189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klimasauskas, S., Kumar, S., Roberts, R.J. and Cheng, X.1994 HhaI methyltransferase flips its target base out of the DNA helix. Cell 76: 357–369.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozak, M.1984 Compilation and analysis of sequences upstream from the translational start in eukaryote mRNAs. Nucl. Acids Res. 12: 857–872.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leonhardt, H., Page, A.W., Weier, H.-U. and Bestor, T.H.1992 A targeting sequence directs DNA methyltransferase to sites of DNA replication in mammalian nuclei. Cell 71: 865–873.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma, Q., Alder, H., Nelson, K.K., Chatterjee, D., Gu, Y., Makamura, T., Canaani, E., Croce, C.M., Siracusa, L.D. and Buchberg, A.M. 1993. Analysis of the murine All-1 gene reveals conserved domains with human ALL-1 and identifies a motif shared with DNA methyltransferases. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90: 6350–6354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malagnac, F., Wendel, B., Goyon, C., Faugeron, G., Zickler, D., Rossignol, J.L., Noyerweidner, M., Vollmayr, P., Trautner, T.A. and Walter, J.1997 A gene essential for de novo methylation and development in Ascobolus reveals a novel type of eukaryotic DNA methyltransferase structure. Cell 91: 281–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, P., Niedenhof, I. and ten Lohuis, M.1994 Evidence for cytosine methylation of non-symmetrical sequences in transgenic Petunia hybrida. EMBO J. 13: 2084–2088.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oakeley, E.J. and Jost, J.-P.1996 Non-symmetrical cytosine methylation in tobacco pollen DNA. Plant Mol. Biol. 31: 927–930.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okano, M., Xie, S. and Li, E.1998 Cloning and characterization of a family of novel mammalian DNA (cytosine-5) methyltransferases. Nature Genet. 19: 219–220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paro, R. and Harte, P.J.1996 The role of polycomb group and thrithorax group chromatin complexes in the maintenance of determined cell states. In: V.E.A. Russo, R.A. Martienssen and A.D. Riggs (Eds.), Epigenetic Mechanisms of Gene Regulation. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, pp. 507–528.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peitsch, M.C.1995 Protein modeling by e-mail. Bio/technology 13: 658–660.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peitsch, M.C.1996 ProMod and Swiss-model: internet-based tools for automated comparative protein modelling. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 24: 274–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peitsch, M.C. and Jongeneel, C.V.1993 A 3-D model for the CD40 ligand predicts that it is a compact trimer similar to the tumor necrosis factors. Int. Immunol. 5: 233–238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Posfai, J., Bhagwat, A.S., Posfai, G. and Roberts, R.J.1989 Predictive motifs derived from cytosine methyltransferases. Nucl. Acids Res. 17: 2421–2435.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pradhan, S., Cummings, M., Roberts, R.J. and Adams, R.L.P.1998 Isolation, characterization and baculovirus-mediated expression of the cDNA encoding cytosine DNA methyltransferase from Pisum sativum. Nucl. Acids Res. 26: 1214–1222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinisch, K.M., Chen, L., Verdine, G.L. and Lipscomb, W.N.1995 The crystal structure of HaeIII methyltransferase covalently complexed to DNA: an extrahelical cytosine and rearranged base pairing. Cell 82: 143–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ronemus, M.J., Galbiati, M., Ticknor, C., Chen, J. and Dellaporta, S.L.1996 Demethylation-induced developmental pleiotropy in Arabidopsis. Science 273: 654–657.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tajima, S., Tsuda, H., Wakabayashi, N., Asano, A., Mizuno, S. and Nishimori, K.1995 Isolation and expression of a chicken DNA methyltransferase cDNA.J. Biochem. 117: 1050–1057.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, B.H., Finnegan, E.J., Dennis, E.S. and Peacock, W.J. 1989. The maize transposable element Ac excises in progeny of transformed tobacco. Plant Mol. Biol. 13: 109–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yen, R.W.C., Vertino, P.M., Nelkin, B.D., Yu, J.J., Eldeiry, W., Cumaraswamy, A., Lennon, G.G., Trask, B.J., Celano, P. and Baylin, S.B.1992 Isolation and characterization of the cDNA encoding human DNA methyltransferase. Nucl. Acids Res. 20: 2287–2291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoder, J.A. and Bestor, T.H.1998 A candidate mammalian DNA methyltransferase related to pmt1p of fission yeast. Hum. Mol. Genet. 7: 279–284.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Genger, R.K., Kovac, K.A., Dennis, E.S. et al. Multiple DNA methyltransferase genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Mol Biol 41, 269–278 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006347010369

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006347010369

Navigation