DDB_G0293380 - dictyBase/community-annotations GitHub Wiki

DDB G0293380 contains a conserved domain which is best matched by COG0116, N6 adenine-specific DNA methylase (E-value 5e-14). The similarity to PRK11783, rRNA methyltransferase, is lower (9e-11). The blast matches list both putative RNA methylases and putative N6 adenine-specific DNA methylases. Thus, although it does not now appear to be possible to assign DDB_G0293380 conclusively to either category, the case for a DNA methylase currently looks a bit stronger.

N6 adenine-specific DNA methylases are generally bacterial proteins involved in restriction-site methylation. The best blast hits for DDB_G0293380 are indeed to bacterial proteins; the handful of eukaryotic hits are signficantly further removed from the Dicty gene. This suggests that the original gene had a conserved role in bacteria but the eukaryotic relatives have become functionally diverse. The Tetrahymena ortholog has been described in Hattman, Biochemistry(Moscow)70 (2005) but its function is not clear.

DDB_G0293380 is overexpressed fivefold in a Dicty strain in which the retinoblastoma-like gene rblA has been disrupted. Most genes with functions necessary for cell cycle progression are overexpressed in this strain, and most of the overexpressed genes have identifiable cell cycle functions. A tempting interpretation is that the product of DDB_G0293380 is involved in a DNA methylation pathway which is coupled with DNA replication.

Harry MacWilliams, December 2009

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