Book Description:
DNA methylation is a type of chemical modification of DNA that can be inherited without changing the DNA sequence. As such, it is part of the epigenetic code and is the most characterized epigenetic mechanism. DNA methylation involves the addition of a methyl group to DNA — for example, to the number 5 carbon of the cytosine pyrimidine ring. DNA methylation is probably universal in eukaryotes. In humans, approximately 1% of DNA bases undergo DNA methylation. In adult somatic tissues, DNA methylation typically occurs in a CpG dinucleotide context; non-CpG methylation is prevalent in embryonic stem cells.In plants, cytosines are methylated both symmetrically (CpG or CpNpG) and asymmetrically (CpNpNp), where N can be any nucleotide. The methylation status of specific cytosines can be determined using methods based on bisulfite sequencing. This new book presents leading-edge research advances in the field.

Table of Contents:
Preface

Chapter 1 - Peculiarities of DNA Methylation in Plants, pp. 1-90;
(Boris F. Vanyushin and Vasili V. Ashapkin)

Chapter 2 - New and Improved Methods for Analysis of Methylated DNA using Capillary Electrophoresis: Fragment Analysis, Direct Sequencing, and Troubleshooting Sequencing of Bisulfite-Converted Genomic DNA, pp. 91-116;
(Victoria L. Boyd, Benjamin G. Schroeder, Linda G. Lee and Gerald Zon)

Chapter 3 - Environmental Influences on DNA Methylation, pp. 117-132;
(Chandrika J. Piyathilake and Gary L. Johanning)

Chapter 4 - DNA Methylation in Zebrafish, pp. 133-152;
(Nobuyoshi Shimoda)

Chapter 5 - Epigenetic Reprogramming and Developmental Potentials of Cloned Embryos after Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, pp. 153-171;
(Satoshi Kishigami)

Chapter 6 - Genomic-Wide DNA Methylation Profiling Methods- From RLGS to Miami, pp. 173-188;
(Izuho Hatada)

Chapter 7 - Epigenetic Regulation of the Genome during Neurodevelopment and in Disease, pp. 189-202;
(Paromita Deb-Rinker and P. Roy Walker)

Chapter 8 - Post-synthetic Methylation of Macromolecules in synchronized Mammalian Cells, pp. 203-224;
Pietro Volpe

Chapter 9 - In search of Asymmetric Cytosine Methylation in Exons 5-8 fo p53, pp. 225-242;
(Sofia Kouidou, Elisavet Georgiou, Andigoni Malousi, Atehna Kykou, Anastasios Kyventidis, Aikaterini Fragou, Theodora Katopodi, Nicos Maglaveras and Georgios Tzimagiorgis)

Index