ELEVATED LEVEL OF ENZYMATIC DNA METHYLATION IN CELLS TREATED WITH 1-BETA-D-ARABINOFURANOSYLCYTOSINE

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 42  (4) , 1537-1540
Abstract
When mouse P815 mastocytoma cells are cultured in the presence of 1-.beta.-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C), a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation and DNA synthesis can be observed. The DNA synthesized in the presence of ara-C is more highly enzymatically methylated than that of controls as measured by conversion of incorporated [14C]deoxycytidine-derived radioactivity into 5-methylcytosine. Analysis of DNA by means of the bacterial restriction enzyme HpaII and its isoschizomer MspI revealed an aberrant DNA methylation pattern after ara-C treatment. The hypermethylation of DNA also persisted in the cell cycle following the treatment in the absence of ara-C. No such changes in DNA methylation patterns following ara-C treatment were observed in P815/ara-C, a subclone of P815 cells resistant to ara-C. [Ara-C is an antineoplastic drug.].