CpG methylation of the CENP-B box reduces human CENP-B binding

FEBS J. 2005 Jan;272(1):282-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.2004.04406.x.

Abstract

In eukaryotes, CpG methylation is an epigenetic DNA modification that is important for heterochromatin formation. Centromere protein B (CENP-B) specifically binds to the centromeric 17 base-pair CENP-B box DNA, which contains two CpG dinucleotides. In this study, we tested complex formation by the DNA-binding domain of CENP-B with methylated and unmethylated CENP-B box DNAs, and found that CENP-B preferentially binds to the unmethylated CENP-B box DNA. Competition analyses revealed that the affinity of CENP-B for the CENP-B box DNA is reduced nearly to the level of nonspecific DNA binding by CpG methylation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autoantigens / chemistry
  • Autoantigens / metabolism*
  • Base Sequence
  • Centromere Protein B
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / chemistry
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / metabolism*
  • CpG Islands*
  • DNA / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Binding

Substances

  • Autoantigens
  • CENPB protein, human
  • Centromere Protein B
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • DNA