In vitro and in silico insights into moniliformin induced global DNA methylation in liver cells

Zeynep Ciftci; Zeynep Rana Güler; Metin Caner Çakır; Sibel Özden

doi:10.33988/auvfd.1732585

In vitro and in silico insights into moniliformin induced global DNA methylation in liver cells

Abstract

Moniliformin (MON) is a mycotoxin that is not routinely monitored in foods; however, it is increasingly recognized as an emerging food safety concern. Although some clastogenic effects were observed, non-genotoxic mechanisms may also contribute to the toxic effects of MON. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of global DNA methylation, the most studied non-genotoxic mechanism, on MON toxicity in human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells. HepG2 cells were exposed to MON at 5, 10, and 50 M concentrations for 24 hours. Global DNA methylation levels and gene expression of DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B, TET1, TET2, and TET3 were analyzed. Interactions among B-DNA, DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B, and MON were investigated using molecular docking. MTT cytotoxicity assay revealed that the IC50 value of MON in HepG2 cells was 253±8.41 M. MON at 10 and 50 μM resulted in at least a 2.18-fold increase (P<0.05) in global DNA methylation levels, accompanied by upregulated expression of DNMT1 and DNMT3A. Moreover, 5, 10, and 50 M of MON resulted in at least 2.37-fold (P<0.05) increase in TET1 genes. In contrast, TET2 expression was significantly downregulated by at least 37% (P<0.05) and 42% (P<0.05) at 10 and 50 M of MON. However, TET3 expression showed no significant change in any treatment group. MON formed hydrogen bonds with B-DNA, DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B. However, the binding energy calculations indicate that the interactions are not biologically active. This study suggests that alterations in global DNA methylation might have a role in MON-induced toxicity.

Keywords

Project Number

TDK-2023-39835

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Veterinary Mycology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Zeynep Ciftci
0000-0001-5349-8103
Türkiye

Zeynep Rana Güler
0000-0003-0817-4315
Türkiye

Metin Caner Çakır
0009-0005-5471-6148
Türkiye

Sibel Özden ^*
0000-0002-1662-2504
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

December 2, 2025

Publication Date

April 1, 2026

Submission Date

July 2, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 20, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 73 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1732585

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA94PG34WR

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Ciftci, Z., Güler, Z. R., Çakır, M. C., & Özden, S. (2026). In vitro and in silico insights into moniliformin induced global DNA methylation in liver cells. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 73(2), 127-136. https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1732585

AMA

1.Ciftci Z, Güler ZR, Çakır MC, Özden S. In vitro and in silico insights into moniliformin induced global DNA methylation in liver cells. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2026;73(2):127-136. doi:10.33988/auvfd.1732585

Chicago

Ciftci, Zeynep, Zeynep Rana Güler, Metin Caner Çakır, and Sibel Özden. 2026. “In Vitro and in Silico Insights into Moniliformin Induced Global DNA Methylation in Liver Cells”. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi 73 (2): 127-36. https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1732585.

EndNote

Ciftci Z, Güler ZR, Çakır MC, Özden S (April 1, 2026) In vitro and in silico insights into moniliformin induced global DNA methylation in liver cells. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi 73 2 127–136.

IEEE

[1]Z. Ciftci, Z. R. Güler, M. C. Çakır, and S. Özden, “In vitro and in silico insights into moniliformin induced global DNA methylation in liver cells”, Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg, vol. 73, no. 2, pp. 127–136, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.33988/auvfd.1732585.

ISNAD

Ciftci, Zeynep - Güler, Zeynep Rana - Çakır, Metin Caner - Özden, Sibel. “In Vitro and in Silico Insights into Moniliformin Induced Global DNA Methylation in Liver Cells”. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi 73/2 (April 1, 2026): 127-136. https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1732585.

JAMA

1.Ciftci Z, Güler ZR, Çakır MC, Özden S. In vitro and in silico insights into moniliformin induced global DNA methylation in liver cells. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2026;73:127–136.

MLA

Ciftci, Zeynep, et al. “In Vitro and in Silico Insights into Moniliformin Induced Global DNA Methylation in Liver Cells”. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 73, no. 2, Apr. 2026, pp. 127-36, doi:10.33988/auvfd.1732585.

Vancouver

1.Zeynep Ciftci, Zeynep Rana Güler, Metin Caner Çakır, Sibel Özden. In vitro and in silico insights into moniliformin induced global DNA methylation in liver cells. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2026 Apr. 1;73(2):127-36. doi:10.33988/auvfd.1732585