DNA Methylation

By Emily Cartwright, PhD

Autophagy more than a cytosolic event

Autophagy is a cellular process whereby cytosolic components are broken down and eliminated or recycled. As a homeostatic mechanism, basal autophagic activity eliminates excess or abnormal proteins and organelles1. As an induced process, autophagy may be triggered by various external challenges, such as decreased nutrient and energy resources, and oxidative stress¹.

Epigenetic alterations have come to prominence in biomedical research. In particular, hypermethylation of CpG islands located in the promoter regions of tumor-suppressor genes is now firmly established as an important mechanism for gene inactivation in cancer.

Methionine Adenosyltransferase II alpha, also known as MAT2a, is a catalytic subunit of methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) and essential enzyme for the catalysis of the principle biological methyl donor, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) from methionine and ATP. MAT2a's heterotetramer structure is composed of 2 catalytic alpha subunits (alpha and alpha’)¹. During development in the adult human liver, MAT2a and its gene products are progressively replaced by MAT1a during fetal liver development².

MECP2 antibodies are used in DNA methylation studies as well as research into Rett syndrome, a progressive neurological disorder caused by a mutation in the MECP2 gene. Now, a new study has been published by the laboratory where the Rett Syndrome gene was discovered, citing MECP2 as a critical factor in a number of other neurological conditions by its interaction with GABA.