Abstract

DNA methylation by type I restriction modification system influences epigenetically gene expression both in the case of the phase variable SpnIII system of Streptococcus pneumoniae and the prototype EcoKI system in Escherichia coli. We deposited the data supporting this study, including transcriptomic and methylome analyses both on genomic level and on isolated promoters in front of luciferase reporter constructs both in S. pneumoniae and E. coli with controls run by qPCR and transferring construct in alternative genetic backgrounds. Data are completed by documentation of the effect of methylation on DNA topology and HU-responsive promoter activity. The data jointly support the hypothesis that global changes in DNA methylation influence epigenetically gene expression by modulation of DNA topology by histone-like proteins.