Ebook: DNA Methylation: Biochemistry and Biological Significance

During the past few decades we have witnessed an era of remarkable growth in the field of molecular biology. In 1950 very little was known of the chemical constitution of biological systems, the manner in which information was trans­ mitted from one organism to another, or the extent to which the chemical basis of life is unified. The picture today is dramatically different. We have an almost bewildering variety of information detailing many different aspects of life at the molecular level. These great advances have brought with them some breath-taking insights into the molecular mechanisms used by nature for rep­ licating, distributing and modifying biological information. We have learned a great deal about the chemical and physical nature of the macromolecular nucleic acids and proteins, and the manner in which carbohydrates, lipids and smaller molecules work together to provide the molecular setting of living sys­ tems. It might be said that these few decades have replaced a near vacuum of information with a very large surplus. It is in the context of this flood of information that this series of monographs on molecular biology has been organized. The idea is to bring together in one place, between the covers of one book, a concise assessment of the state of the subject in a well-defined field. This will enable the reader to get a sense of historical perspective-what is known about the field today-and a description of the frontiers of research where our knowledge is increasing steadily.

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Introduction and General Overview....Pages 1-10
Type I and Type III Restriction-Modification Enzymes....Pages 11-37
Methylases of the Type II Restriction-Modification Systems....Pages 39-71
The Restriction and Modification DNA Methylases: An Overview....Pages 73-80
Methylation of Prokaryotic DNA....Pages 81-109
DNA Methylation: DNA Replication and Repair....Pages 111-126
DNA Methylation Patterns: Formation and Biological Functions....Pages 127-146
DNA Methylation and Gene Expression....Pages 147-164
Gene Activation by 5-Azacytidine....Pages 165-187
DNA Methylation in Early Mammalian Development....Pages 189-219
Specific Promoter Methylations Cause Gene Inactivation....Pages 221-247
DNA Methylation and Developmental Regulation of Eukaryotic Globin Gene Transcription....Pages 249-268
X Inactivation, DNA Methylation, and Differentiation Revisited....Pages 269-278
Left-handed Z-DNA and Methylation of d(CpG) Sequences....Pages 279-292
Chromatin Structure and Gene Expression....Pages 293-351
Gene Methylation Patterns and Expression....Pages 353-378
Back Matter....Pages 379-392

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Introduction and General Overview....Pages 1-10
Type I and Type III Restriction-Modification Enzymes....Pages 11-37
Methylases of the Type II Restriction-Modification Systems....Pages 39-71
The Restriction and Modification DNA Methylases: An Overview....Pages 73-80
Methylation of Prokaryotic DNA....Pages 81-109
DNA Methylation: DNA Replication and Repair....Pages 111-126
DNA Methylation Patterns: Formation and Biological Functions....Pages 127-146
DNA Methylation and Gene Expression....Pages 147-164
Gene Activation by 5-Azacytidine....Pages 165-187
DNA Methylation in Early Mammalian Development....Pages 189-219
Specific Promoter Methylations Cause Gene Inactivation....Pages 221-247
DNA Methylation and Developmental Regulation of Eukaryotic Globin Gene Transcription....Pages 249-268
X Inactivation, DNA Methylation, and Differentiation Revisited....Pages 269-278
Left-handed Z-DNA and Methylation of d(CpG) Sequences....Pages 279-292
Chromatin Structure and Gene Expression....Pages 293-351
Gene Methylation Patterns and Expression....Pages 353-378
Back Matter....Pages 379-392
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