In
molecular biology, methylation induced premeiotically (MIP) is a process by which
cytosines within repeated
DNA sequences are ''de novo'' methylated prior to the sexual cycle. This process was first described in the
ascomycete
Ascomycota is a phylum of the kingdom Fungi that, together with the Basidiomycota, forms the subkingdom Dikarya. Its members are commonly known as the sac fungi or ascomycetes. It is the largest phylum of Fungi, with over 64,000 species. The defi ...
''
Ascobolus immersens
''Ascobolus'' is a genus of fungi in the Ascobolaceae family. The genus has a widespread distribution, and contains an estimated 61 species, most of which are coprophilous. The genus was circumscribed by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1796.
Speci ...
''. MIP is dependent upon the gene ''masc1'' which encodes a
cytosine methyltransferase-like protein.
At least one major function of the process appears to be genome defense. Related functions have been found in other fungi, including ''
Neurospora'' and ''
Aspergillus'' species.
[Lee DW, Freitag M, Selker EU, Aramayo R (2008) A Cytosine Methyltransferase Homologue Is Essential for Sexual Development in Aspergillus nidulans. PLoS ONE 3(6): e2531. ]
References
Molecular biology
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