Physiological functions of plant DNA methyltransferases

Bifunctional Prokaryotic DNA-Methyltransferases

Mammalian DNA methyltransferases.

DNA methylation is an epigenetic process affecting gene expression and chromatin organization. It can heritably silence or activate transcription of genes without any change in their nucleotide sequences, and for a long time was not recognized as an important regulatory mechanism. However, during the recent years it has been shown that improper methylation, especially hypermethylation of promot...

The DNA methyltransferases of mammals.

The biological significance of 5-methylcytosine was in doubt for many years, but is no longer. Through targeted mutagenesis in mice it has been learnt that every protein shown by biochemical tests to be involved in the establishment, maintenance or interpretation of genomic methylation patterns is encoded by an essential gene. A human genetic disorder (ICF syndrome) has recently been shown to b...

Imprinting: DNA Methyltransferases Illuminate Reprogramming

Progress in studying epigenetic reprogramming in plants has been impeded by the difficulty in obtaining tissue for analysis. Now, using a combination of fluorescent reporters and translational fusions, a new study sheds some light on this process.

DNA methyltransferases: facts, clues, mysteries.

DNA methylation plays a pivotal role during development in mammals and is central to transcriptional silencing. The DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are responsible for the generation of genomic methylation patterns leading to gene silencing, but the underlying molecular basis remains largely shrouded in mystery. Here we review our current understanding of the mechanisms by which DNMTs repress tr...