Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2026

Immunohistochemical Detection of 5-Methylcytosine and 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine in Developing and Postmitotic Mouse Retina
Published on: August 29, 2018
DNA of Drosophila melanogaster contains 5-methylcytosine
H Gowher1, O Leismann, A Jeltsch
1Institut für Biochemie, Fachbereich 8, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58, 35392 Giessen and Lehrstuhl für Genetik, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätstrasse 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany.
Abstract:
It is commonly accepted that the DNA of Drosophila melanogaster does not contain 5-methylcytosine, which is essential in the development of most eukaryotes. We have developed a new, highly specific and sensitive assay to detect the presence of 5-methylcytosine in genomic DNA. The DNA is degraded to nucleosides, 5-methylcytosine purified by HPLC and, for detection by 1D- and 2D-TLC, radiolabeled using deoxynucleoside kinase and [gamma-(32)P]ATP. Using this assay, we show here that 5-methylcytosine occurs in the DNA of D. melanogaster at a level of approximately 1 in 1000-2000 cytosine residues in adult flies. DNA methylation is detectable in all stages of D.melanogaster development.
Related Concept Videos
Position-effect Variegation
Heterochromatin
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at 9th...
Polytene Chromosomes
Cis-regulatory Sequences
Epigenetic Regulation

