DNA Methyltransferase

DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are a family of “writer” enzymes responsible for DNA methylation that is the addition of a methyl group to the carbon atom number five (C5) of cytosine. Mammalians encode five DNMTs: DNMT1, DNMT2, DNMT3A-DNMT3B (de novo methyltransferases), and DNMTL. DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B are the three active enzymes that maintain DNA methylation. DNMT3L has no catalytic activity and functions as a regulator of DNMT3A and DNMT3B, whereas DNMT2 acts as a tRNA transferase rather than a DNA methyltransferase.

DNA methylation is a vital modification process in the control of genetic information, which contributes to the epigenetics by regulating gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. In prokaryotes, DNA methylation is essential for transcription, the direction of post-replicative mismatch repair, the regulation of DNA replication, cell-cycle control, bacterial virulence, and differentiating self and non-self DNA. In mammalians, DNA methylation is crucial in many key physiological processes, including the inactivation of the X-chromosome, imprinting, and the silencing of germline-specific genes and repetitive elements.