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Detection of cytosine methylation in the maize alcohol dehydrogenase gene by genomic sequencing

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Abstract

DNA methylation is believed to be involved in the control of gene expression1,2. In higher plants, up to 30% of the cytosine residues can be methylated—at C-X-G trinucleotides as well as C-G dinucleotides—compared with only 2–8% of total cytosines appearing exclusively as 5-methyl-C-5-methylcytosine in higher animals1–4. We have used the genomic sequencing technique of Church and Gilbert5 to study the methylation of an alcohol dehydrogenase gene, Adhl, from maize. Adhl is one of two unlinked maize alcohol dehydrogenase genes6,7 and appears in several tissues, including the scutellum of the kernel and the primary root of the seedling. It is further induced in primary roots subjected to anaerobiosis8–10. However, this gene is totally repressed in maize leaves11. Nonetheless, we have now found that a 900-base-pair (bp) region 5′ to the ATG is not methylated in leaves, even though it is rich in potential methylation sites. The first methylations occur 965 bp 5′ to the ATG. Thus, methylation does not appear to be involved in repressing this plant gene.

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Author notes

  1. Harry Nick

    Present address: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA

  2. Barbara Bowen & Walter Gilbert

    Present address: Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, USA

  3. Robert J. Ferl: Department of Botany, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biogen Research Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02142, USA

    Harry Nick, Barbara Bowen, Robert J. Ferl & Walter Gilbert

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  1. Harry Nick
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  2. Barbara Bowen
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  3. Robert J. Ferl
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  4. Walter Gilbert
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Nick, H., Bowen, B., Ferl, R. et al. Detection of cytosine methylation in the maize alcohol dehydrogenase gene by genomic sequencing. Nature 319, 243–246 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/319243a0

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