Analysis of DNA methylation in human BK polyomavirus

• Main Authors: Chi-Fang Chang, 張綺芳
• Other Authors: Deching Chang
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/23048914732368761435

博士 === 國立中正大學 === 化學暨生物化學研究所 === 99 === Human BK virus may cause nephropathy due to viral replication in patients who have undergone renal transplantation. However the mechanism regulating replication of BKV is still not clear. Previous studies have suggested that epigenetic modifications may play a crucial role in virus replication. In this study, the DNA methylation profiles of five CpG sites located within promoter/enhancer regions and nine CpG sites located within early and late coding regions of the replicating BKV genome were investigated. BKV genomic DNA from mature virions and from early and late phase of replicating BKV were examined for DNA methylation by bisulfite sequencing that covered 14 CpG sites. The results showed that none of the examined BKV DNA from the various different stages of replication was methylated. This is the first report to analyze the methylation of BKV genomic DNA during viral replication. The results seem to indicate that methylation is not involved in regulation of BKV replication.