Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 13, 2026
08:56
A Method for Measuring RNA N6-methyladenosine Modifications in Cells and Tissues
Published on: December 5, 2016
11.4K
N6-methyladenine DNA modification in Drosophila
Guoqiang Zhang1, Hua Huang2, Di Liu2
1State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Cell
|May 5, 2015
Summary
DNA N(6)-methyladenine (6mA) modification is found in Drosophila, regulated by DMAD demethylase during development. This DNA modification is crucial for suppressing transposons and controlling development in higher eukaryotes.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- DNA N(6)-methyladenine (6mA) is a known epigenetic modification in microbes.
- Its presence and function in higher eukaryotes, like Drosophila, were previously unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the occurrence and role of 6mA DNA modification in the Drosophila genome.
- To identify the enzyme responsible for regulating 6mA levels and its developmental significance.
Main Methods:
- Biochemical assays to test demethylase activity.
- Genetic analyses of the DNA 6mA demethylase (DMAD) homolog.
- DNA sequencing to map 6mA modification sites.
Main Results:
- 6mA modification is present and dynamic in the Drosophila genome.
- Drosophila DMAD directly catalyzes 6mA demethylation in vitro.
- DMAD is essential for development and suppresses transposons in ovaries by removing 6mA.
Conclusions:
- Uncovered a novel DNA modification (6mA) in Drosophila.
- Established the DMAD-6mA regulatory axis as critical for development and transposon control in higher eukaryotes.
Related Concept Videos
02:23RNA Editing
10.2K
RNA editing is a post-transcriptional modification where a precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) nucleotide sequence is changed by base insertion, deletion, or modification. The extent of RNA editing varies from a few hundred bases, in mitochondrial DNA of trypanosomes, to a just single base, in nuclear genes of mammals. Even a single base change in the pre-mRNA can convert a codon for one amino acid into the codon for another amino acid or a stop codon. This type of re-coding can significantly affect the...
10.2K
02:32Position-effect Variegation
7.3K
In 1928, a German botanist Emil Heitz observed the moss nuclei with a DNA binding dye. He observed that while some chromatin regions decondense and spread out in the interphase nucleus, others do not. He termed them euchromatin and heterochromatin, respectively. He proposed that the heterochromatin regions reflect a functionally inactive state of the genome. It was later confirmed that heterochromatin is transcriptionally repressed, and euchromatin is transcriptionally active chromatin.
7.3K
02:32Exon Recombination
4.3K
The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes.
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon...
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon...
4.3K