title: [DNA methyltransferases: classification, functions and research progress].
abstract: DNA methylation is a postreplicative modification occurred in most prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes, which has a variety of important biological functions including regulation of gene expression, gene imprinting, preservation of chromosomal integrity, and X-chromosome inactivation. According to their structure and functions, DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) are divided into two major families in mammalian cells: maintenance methyltransferase (Dnmt1) and de novo methyltransferases (Dnmt3a, Dnmt3b, and Dnmt3L). In addition, Dnmt2 also displays weak DNA methyltransferase catalytic activity, but newly founded function is to methylate cytosine 38 in the anti-codon loop of tRNAAsp. These Dnmts are crucial for mammalian growth and development. Dnmts deficiency will lead to embryonic development defects, cancer, and other diseases. Therefore, Dnmts could be important therapeutical targets. This article summarizes the classification, function, and recent research progress in DNA methyltransferases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China. wzg2700@sohu.com
authors.forename: Zhi-Gang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian-Xin
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000076123:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D019175:DNA Methylation; D000090205:DNA Methyltransferase 3A; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D000097584:DNA Methyltransferase 3B
chemical_list: D000076123:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; D000090205:DNA Methyltransferase 3A; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases; D000097584:DNA Methyltransferase 3B; C000717967:DNMT3A protein, human; C000619380:DNMT1 protein, human