Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

Continuous Fluorescence-Based Endonuclease-Coupled DNA Methylation Assay to Screen for DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors
06:07

Continuous Fluorescence-Based Endonuclease-Coupled DNA Methylation Assay to Screen for DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors

Published on: August 5, 2022

MPP8 mediates the interactions between DNA methyltransferase Dnmt3a and H3K9 methyltransferase GLP/G9a

Yanqi Chang1, Lidong Sun, Kenji Kokura

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.

Nature Communications
|November 17, 2011
PubMed

Insights

This study reveals how G9a/GLP enzymes methylate Dnmt3a, enabling MPP8 to link DNA and H3K9 methylation. This explains the co-occurrence of these key epigenetic modifications in chromatin.

Area of Science:

  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Chromatin Biology

Background:

  • DNA CpG methylation and H3K9 methylation are key repressive epigenetic marks.
  • These modifications are often found together on chromatin.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanism linking DNA and H3K9 methylation.
  • To identify the proteins involved in coordinating these epigenetic processes.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro and cellular assays to study protein-protein interactions.
  • Biochemical analysis of G9a/GLP, Dnmt3a, and MPP8.
  • Structural studies of MPP8 chromodomain.

Main Results:

  • G9a/GLP dimethylate Dnmt3a at K44 (mouse) / K47 (human).
  • MPP8's chromodomain binds to dimethylated Dnmt3a and interacts with GLP.
  • MPP8 forms dimers, potentially bridging Dnmt3a and GLP/G9a.

Conclusions:

  • A Dnmt3a-MPP8-GLP/G9a complex is proposed to mediate coordinated epigenetic silencing.
  • This provides a molecular basis for the correlation between DNA and H3K9 methylation.

More Related Videos

Immunostaining for DNA Modifications: Computational Analysis of Confocal Images09:42

Immunostaining for DNA Modifications: Computational Analysis of Confocal Images

Published on: September 7, 2017

Isolation and Cultivation of Neural Progenitors Followed by Chromatin-Immunoprecipitation of Histone 3 Lysine 79 Dimethylation Mark10:09

Isolation and Cultivation of Neural Progenitors Followed by Chromatin-Immunoprecipitation of Histone 3 Lysine 79 Dimethylation Mark

Published on: January 26, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Histone Modification02:32

Histone Modification

The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
Spreading of Chromatin Modifications02:25

Spreading of Chromatin Modifications

The histone proteins in the nucleosomes are post-translationally modified (PTM) to increase or decrease access to DNA. The commonly observed PTMs are methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination of lysine amino acids in the histone H3 tail region. These histone modifications have specific meaning for the cell. Hence, they are called "histone code". The protein complex involved in histone modification is termed as "reader-writer" complex.
Writers
The writer is an enzyme that can...
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
Master Transcription Regulators02:23

Master Transcription Regulators

Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a  complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...