Selective, stable demethylation of the interleukin-2 gene enhances transcription by an active process
Nature ImmunologyPublished 27 January 2003
Denis Bruniquel, Ronald H. Schwartz
Citations452
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score10.39
SNIP3.81
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TL;DR
A small region in the promoter-enhancer of the interleukin-2 (Il2) gene is defined that demethylates in T lymphocytes following activation, and remains demethylated thereafter, implying that this demethylation process proceeds by an active enzymatic mechanism.
Abstract
A role for DNA demethylation in transcriptional regulation of genes expressed in differentiated somatic cells remains controversial. Here, we define a small region in the promoter-enhancer of the interleukin-2 (Il2) gene that demethylates in T lymphocytes following activation, and remains demethylated thereafter. This epigenetic change was necessary and sufficient to enhance transcription in reporter plasmids. The demethylation process started as early as 20 minutes after stimulation and was not prevented by a G1 to S phase cell cycle inhibitor that blocks DNA replication. These results imply that this demethylation process proceeds by an active enzymatic mechanism.
Keywords
Immunology and MicrobiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
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