CpG Islands of the Pig

CpG islands and the regulation of transcription.

Vertebrate CpG islands (CGIs) are short interspersed DNA sequences that deviate significantly from the average genomic pattern by being GC-rich, CpG-rich, and predominantly nonmethylated. Most, perhaps all, CGIs are sites of transcription initiation, including thousands that are remote from currently annotated promoters. Shared DNA sequence features adapt CGIs for promoter function by destabili...

CpG islands--'a rough guide'.

Mammalian genomes are punctuated by DNA sequences containing an atypically high frequency of CpG sites termed CpG islands (CGIs). CGIs generally lack DNA methylation and associate with the majority of annotated gene promoters. Many studies, however, have identified examples of CGI methylation in malignant cells, leading to improper gene silencing. CGI methylation also occurs in normal tissues a...

DNA Methyltransferases and Methylation of CpG islands

DNA methylation is a critical mechanism of epigenetic modification involved in gene expression programming, that can promote the development of several cancers, including breast cancer. The methylation of CpG islands by DNA methyltransferases is reversible and has been shown to modify the transcriptional activity of key proliferation genes or transcription factors involved in suppression or pro...

In vitro methylation of CpG-rich islands.

CpG islands are distinguishable from the bulk of vertebrate DNA for being unmethylated and CpG-rich. Since CpG doublets are the specific target of eukaryotic DNA methyltransferases, CpG-rich sequences might be expected to be good methyl-accepting substrates in vitro, despite their unmethylated in vivo condition. This was tested using a partially purified DNA-methyltransferase from human placent...

Methylation Status of CpG Islands Flanking