Open AccessStudies on the biological role of DNA methylation: inhibition of methylation and maturation of the bacteriophage øX174 by nicotinamide
Author(s) -
Aharon Razin,
Dorit Goren,
Joseph H. Friedman
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
nucleic acids research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 9.008
H-Index - 537
eISSN - 1362-4954
pISSN - 0305-1048
DOI - 10.1093/nar/2.10.1967
Subject(s) - hebrew , biology , dna methylation , methylation , classics , dna , genetics , history , gene , gene expression
Nicotinamide was found to be a potent inhibitor of DNA methylation in vivo without interfering with protein or DNA synthesis. The inhibition of DNA methylation in a phage-infected cell resulted in a parallel decrease in the production of viable virus particles. In vitro experiments revealed that nicotinamide inhibits DNA methylase activity in a competitive fashion with respect to S-adenosylmethionine and non-competitively with respect to DNA. These results were interpreted to mean that DNA methylation is an essential step in the process of maturation of the bacteriophage phichi174.