The fission yeast gene pmt1+ encodes a DNA methyltransferase homologue

Nucleic Acids Res. 1995 Jan 25;23(2):203-10. doi: 10.1093/nar/23.2.203.

Abstract

DNA methylation of cytosine residues is a widespread phenomenon and has been implicated in a number of biological processes in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. This methylation occurs at the 5-position of cytosine and is catalyzed by a distinct family of conserved enzymes, the cytosine-5 methyltransferases (m5C-MTases). We have cloned a fission yeast gene pmt1+ (pombe methyltransferase) which encodes a protein that shares significant homology with both prokaryotic and eukaryotic m5C-MTases. All 10 conserved domains found in these enzymes are present in the pmt1 protein. This is the first m5C-MTase homologue cloned from a fungal species. Its presence is surprising, given the inability to detect DNA methylation in yeasts. Haploid cells lacking the pmt1+ gene are viable, indicating that pmt1+ is not an essential gene. Purified, bacterially produced pmt1 protein does not possess obvious methyltransferase activity in vitro. Thus the biological significance of the m5C-MTase homologue in fission yeast is currently unclear.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Cytosine / metabolism
  • DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / chemistry
  • DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / genetics*
  • DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / metabolism
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA-Cytosine Methylases / chemistry
  • DNA-Cytosine Methylases / genetics*
  • DNA-Cytosine Methylases / metabolism
  • Gene Deletion
  • Genes, Fungal*
  • Methylation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Open Reading Frames
  • S-Adenosylmethionine / metabolism
  • Schizosaccharomyces / genetics*
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / chemistry
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / genetics*
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Homology

Substances

  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins
  • S-Adenosylmethionine
  • Cytosine
  • DNA
  • DNA-Cytosine Methylases
  • DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases
  • Pmt1 protein, S pombe

Associated data

  • GENBANK/X82444