Background:

RG108 is a DNA methyltransferase (DMNT) inhibitor that enhanced reprogramming of OK-transduced MEFs in the presence of BIX. It is a small molecule that effectively blocked DNA methyltransferases in vitro and did not cause covalent enzyme trapping in human cell lines. DNA methylation regulates gene expression in normal and malignant cells. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors are able to reactivate epigenetically silenced genes. RG108 caused demethylation and reactivation of tumor suppressor genes, but it did not affect the methylation of centromeric satellite sequences. These results establish RG108 as a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor with fundamentally novel characteristics that will be particularly useful for the experimental modulation of epigenetic gene regulation.

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