Methylated bases in mycoplasmal DNA

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Abstract
The DNAs of four Mycoplasma and one Acholeplasma species were found to cogtain methylated bases. All of the five species contained 6-methyladenine (m6Ade), the methylated base characteristic of prokaryotic DNA. The extent of methylation of adenine residues in the mycoplasmal DNA ranged from 0.2% in Mycoplasma capricolum to about 2% in Mycoplasma arginini and Mycoplasma hyorhinis with intermediate methylation values for Mycaplasma orale and Acholeplasma laidlawii DNAs. About 5.8% of the cytosine residues in M. hyorhinis DNA were methylated also. Analysis of cell culture DNA for the presence of m6 Ade as a means for detection of contamination by mycoplasmas, and the phylogenetic implications of the finding of methylated bases in mycoplasmal DNAs are discussed.