A GCDGC-specific DNA (cytosine-5) methyltransferase that methylates the GCWGC sequence on both strands and the GCSGC sequence on one strand

PLoS One. 2022 Mar 21;17(3):e0265225. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265225. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

5-Methylcytosine is one of the major epigenetic marks of DNA in living organisms. Some bacterial species possess DNA methyltransferases that modify cytosines on both strands to produce fully-methylated sites or on either strand to produce hemi-methylated sites. In this study, we characterized a DNA methyltransferase that produces two sequences with different methylation patterns: one methylated on both strands and another on one strand. M.BatI is the orphan DNA methyltransferase of Bacillus anthracis coded in one of the prophages on the chromosome. Analysis of M.BatI modified DNA by bisulfite sequencing revealed that the enzyme methylates the first cytosine in sequences of 5'-GCAGC-3', 5'-GCTGC-3', and 5'-GCGGC-3', but not of 5'-GCCGC-3'. This resulted in the production of fully-methylated 5'-GCWGC-3' and hemi-methylated 5'-GCSGC-3'. M.BatI also showed toxicity when expressed in E. coli, which was caused by a mechanism other than DNA modification activity. Homologs of M.BatI were found in other Bacillus species on different prophage like regions, suggesting the spread of the gene by several different phages. The discovery of the DNA methyltransferase with unique modification target specificity suggested unrevealed diversity of target sequences of bacterial cytosine DNA methyltransferase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cytosine*
  • DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / metabolism
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Methylation
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Methyltransferases* / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Cytosine
  • DNA
  • Methyltransferases
  • DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in Japan or Japan Society for the Promotion of Science under Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) [18K14672 to Y.F., 18H0413208 to Y.I.]; Platform Project for Supporting Drug Discovery and Life Science Research (Basis for Supporting Innovative Drug Discovery and Life Science Research (BINDS)) from Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) [JP20am0101103 to T.I.]. This work was the result of using research equipment shared in MEXT Project for promoting public utilization of advanced research infrastructure (Program for supporting introduction of the new sharing system) [JPMXS0420100619 to M.I.]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection, and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.