Growth conditions of F9 embryonal carcinoma cells affect the degree of DNA methylation

We have investigated differences in C * pG methylation between F9 embryonal carcinoma cells in vitro and as tumor cells grown in vivo using Msp I and Hpa II restriction isoschizomers. Southerns were hybridized with two low copy number probes, mouse major β-globin (f7) and a class I, histocompatibility-2 cDNA clone (pH-2 d -4). In each case, the tumor-DNA was hypomethylated while the DNA from F9 cells grown in vitro was moderately methylated. We conclude that growth conditions or cell-cell interactions can greatly affect methylation of C * pG sites.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43248/1/11033_2004_Article_BF00776983.pd