title: Expression of exogenous DNA methyltransferases: application in molecular and cell biology.
abstract: DNA methyltransferases might be used as powerful tools for studies in molecular and cell biology due to their ability to recognize and modify nitrogen bases in specific sequences of the genome. Methylation of the eukaryotic genome using exogenous DNA methyltransferases appears to be a promising approach for studies on chromatin structure. Currently, the development of new methods for targeted methylation of specific genetic loci using DNA methyltransferases fused with DNA-binding proteins is especially interesting. In the present review, expression of exogenous DNA methyltransferase for purposes of in vivo analysis of the functional chromatin structure along with investigation of the functional role of DNA methylation in cell processes are discussed, as well as future prospects for application of DNA methyltransferases in epigenetic therapy and in plant selection.
authors.affiliation: Branch of Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia. buryanov@bibch.ru.
authors.forename: O V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Dyachenko
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Tarlachkov
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Marinitch
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Shevchuk
authors.forename: Y I
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Buryanov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases