| Title | Prokaryotic DNA methylation and its functional roles |
|---|---|
| Author | Hoon Je Seong1, Sang-Wook Han2*, and Woo Jun Sul1* |
| Address | 1Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Republic of Korea, 2Department of Plant Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Republic of Korea |
| Bibliography | Journal of Microbiology, 59(3),242–248, 2021, |
| DOI | 10.1007/s12275-021-0674-y |
| Key Words | DNA methylation, DNA methyltransferase, restriction- modification, prokaryotic epigenetics |
| Abstract | DNA methylation is known as a universal mechanism of epigenetic regulation in all kingdoms of life. Particularly, given that prokaryotes lack key elements such as histones and nucleosomes that can structurally modify DNA, DNA methylation is considered a major epigenetic regulator in these organisms. However, because DNA methylation studies have focused primarily on eukaryotes, the mechanism of prokaryotic DNA methylation has been less studied than in eukaryotes. DNA methylation in prokaryotes plays an important role in regulating not only the host defense system, but also the cell cycle, gene expression, and virulence that can respond directly to the environment. Recent advances in sequencing techniques capable of detecting methylation signals have allowed for the characterization of prokaryotic genome-wide epigenetic regulation. In this review, we describe representative examples of cellular events regulated by DNA methylation in prokaryotes, from early studies to current applications. |