DNA methylation decreases in aging but not in immortal cells

VL Wilson, PA Jones - Science, 1983 - science.org
VL Wilson, PA Jones
Science, 1983science.org
When normal diploid fibroblasts from mice, hamsters, and humans were grown in culture,
the 5-methylcytosine content of their DNA's markedly decreased. The greatest rate of loss of
5-methylcytosine residues was observed in mouse cells, which survived the least number of
divisions. Immortal mouse cell lines had more stable rates of methylation.
When normal diploid fibroblasts from mice, hamsters, and humans were grown in culture, the 5-methylcytosine content of their DNA's markedly decreased. The greatest rate of loss of 5-methylcytosine residues was observed in mouse cells, which survived the least number of divisions. Immortal mouse cell lines had more stable rates of methylation.
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