Biomaterial Database

Effect of 5-azacytidine on deoxyribonucleic acid methylation in Escherichia coli K12. 1984

S Friedman, and L C Cheong

5-Azacytidine inhibits Escherichia coli DNA(cytosine-5)methylase when added to growing cells. The time-course of recovery of methylase activity and the appearance of 5-methylcytosine in DNA following removal of the drug was studied. When E. coli K12 was treated with 5-azacytidine for 30 min, DNA (cytosine-5)methylase levels decreased to less than 10% of control levels and slowly recovered to control levels after seven generations of growth. 5-Methylcytosine synthesis in DNA remained at less than 10% of control levels for three generations after treatment and returned to control levels after six generations of growth. In contrast, beta-galactosidase levels in induced cells, which declined to 66% of control one generation after treatment, returned to control by the third generation of growth. The rate of induction of beta-galactosidase had returned to the control rate two generations after growth resumed. Since azacytidine-containing DNA inhibits DNA-cytosine methylases in vitro, the prolonged inhibition of cytosine methylation in E. coli K12 following treatment with the drug could be due to the persistence of the drug in DNA and thus inhibition of newly synthesized enzymes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008745	Methylation	Addition of methyl groups. In histo-chemistry methylation is used to esterify carboxyl groups and remove sulfate groups by treating tissue sections with hot methanol in the presence of hydrochloric acid. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Methylations
D008780	Methyltransferases	A subclass of enzymes of the transferase class that catalyze the transfer of a methyl group from one compound to another. (Dorland, 28th ed) EC 2.1.1.	Methyltransferase
D004269	DNA, Bacterial	Deoxyribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of bacteria.	Bacterial DNA
D004926	Escherichia coli	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc.	Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D001374	Azacitidine	A pyrimidine analogue that inhibits DNA methyltransferase, impairing DNA methylation. It is also an antimetabolite of cytidine, incorporated primarily into RNA. Azacytidine has been used as an antineoplastic agent.	Azacytidine,5-Azacytidine,NSC-102816,Vidaza,5 Azacytidine,NSC 102816,NSC102816
D001426	Bacterial Proteins	Proteins found in any species of bacterium.	Bacterial Gene Products,Bacterial Gene Proteins,Gene Products, Bacterial,Bacterial Gene Product,Bacterial Gene Protein,Bacterial Protein,Gene Product, Bacterial,Gene Protein, Bacterial,Gene Proteins, Bacterial,Protein, Bacterial,Proteins, Bacterial
D001616	beta-Galactosidase	A group of enzymes that catalyzes the hydrolysis of terminal, non-reducing beta-D-galactose residues in beta-galactosides. Deficiency of beta-Galactosidase A1 may cause GANGLIOSIDOSIS, GM1.	Lactases,Dairyaid,Lactaid,Lactogest,Lactrase,beta-D-Galactosidase,beta-Galactosidase A1,beta-Galactosidase A2,beta-Galactosidase A3,beta-Galactosidases,lac Z Protein,Protein, lac Z,beta D Galactosidase,beta Galactosidase,beta Galactosidase A1,beta Galactosidase A2,beta Galactosidase A3,beta Galactosidases