Abstract
We have sequenced the promoter region of the murine asparagine synthetase gene and examined its methylation profile in the CpG islands of L-asparaginase-sensitive 6C3HED cells (asparagine auxotrophs) and resistant variants (prototrophs). In the former, complete methylation of the CpG island is correlated with failure of expression of mRNA: cells of the latter possess both methylated and unmethylated alleles, as do cells of the intrinsically asparagine-independent lines L1210 and EL4. A similar phenomenon was seen in normal splenic cells of adult mice. This was age related: no methylation was found in weanlings, but up to 45% of gene copies in animals 18 weeks or older were methylated. It was also tissue related, with methylation occurring rarely in liver cells. The relationship of these changes to oncogenesis is considered.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 930-935 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | British journal of cancer |
Volume | 85 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 14 2001 |
Keywords
- Ageing
- Asparagine synthetase
- Hypermethylation
- Lymphoma
- Mouse
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research