Nucleic Acids Research, 1975, Vol. 2, No. 10 1967-1974
© 1975
Articles |
Studies on the biological role of DNA methylation: inhibition of methylation and maturation of the bacteriophage øX174 by nicotinamide
Department of Cellular Biochemistry, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School Jerusalem, Israel 91000
Received September 8, 1975. Nicotinamide was found to be a potent inhibitor of DNA methylation in vivo without interfering with protein or DNA synthesis. The inhibition of DNA methylation in a phage-infected cell resulted in a parallel decrease in the production of viable virus particles. In vitro experiments revealed that nicotinamide inhibits DNA methylase activity in a competitive fashion with respect to S-adenosylmethionine and non-competitively with respect to DNA. These results were interpreted to mean that DNA methylation is an essential step in the process of maturation of the bacteriophage øX174.