Ultraviolet radiation-induced metallothionein-I gene activation is associated with extensive DNA demethylation

Michael W. Lieberman, Larry R. Beach, Richard D. Palmiter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

118 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ultraviolet irradiation (UV) of cadmium-sensitive S49 mouse cells induces a large increase in cadmiumresistant variants. About 30%-40% of these variants make metallothionein (MT)-I mRNA while S49 cells do not. S49 cells contain two copies of the MT-I gene; both alleles are heavily methylated but can be conveniently distinguished by the methylation status of a single Hpa II site. In lines expressing MT-I, one allele becomes completely demethylated at all methylation-sensitive restriction sites examined over at least a 2.5 kb region spanning the MT-I gene. Activation of a quiescent gene by UV has implications for understanding the initiation of carcinogenesis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)207-214
Number of pages8
JournalCell
Volume35
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1983

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)

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