DNA methyltransferases: facts, clues, mysteries.
نویسندگان
چکیده
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 transcription and how they are targeted to preferred DNA sequences. Emerging evidence points to an essential and intricate web of interactions between DNMTs and the chromatin environment in which they function. The recent identification of novel transcription factors recruiting the DNMTs may open new avenues of research into the origin of DNA methylation patterns. Thanks to these emerging clues, researchers have begun to lift the veil on the multi-faceted DNMTs, but there remains fascinating work ahead for whoever wants to fully understand DNMTs and their role in the mammalian cell.
منابع مشابه
Antigenic variation in Trypanosoma brucei: facts, challenges and mysteries.
Antigenic variation allows African trypanosomes to develop chronic infections in mammalian hosts. This process results from the alternative occurrence of transcriptional switching and DNA recombination targeted to a telomeric locus that contains the gene of the variant antigen and is subjected to mono-allelic expression control. So far, the identification of mechanisms and factors involved stil...
متن کاملThe role and importance of DNA methylation in spermatogenesis process
Background: DNA methylation is one of the epigenetic marks that are created by de novo DNA methylation and be maintained through cell division. This process is catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases. DNA methylation establishment in germ line is important, since they have the potential to regulate gene expression in offspring and improper DNA methylation patterns in germ lines has serious conseque...
متن کاملOn the Evolutionary Origin of Eukaryotic DNA Methyltransferases and Dnmt2
The Dnmt2 enzymes show strong amino acid sequence similarity with eukaryotic and prokaryotic DNA-(cytosine C5)-methyltransferases. Yet, Dnmt2 enzymes from several species were shown to methylate tRNA-Asp and had been proposed that eukaryotic DNA methyltransferases evolved from a Dnmt2-like tRNA methyltransferase ancestor [Goll et al., 2006, Science, 311, 395-8]. It was the aim of this study to ...
متن کاملConserved plant genes with similarity to mammalian de novo DNA methyltransferases.
DNA methylation plays a critical role in controlling states of gene activity in most eukaryotic organisms, and it is essential for proper growth and development. Patterns of methylation are established by de novo methyltransferases and maintained by maintenance methyltransferase activities. The Dnmt3 family of de novo DNA methyltransferases has recently been characterized in animals. Here we de...
متن کاملSpecial RepoRt Bioinformatic identification of novel methyltransferases
Methyltransferases & epigenomics In recent years, we have witnessed greatly expanded attention to the enzymes that catalyze the transfer of methyl groups from S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) to DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids and small molecules [1]. The central role of methyltransferases in epigenetics was first realized with enzymes modifying DNA [2,3]; subsequent work has demonstrated the importanc...
متن کاملذخیره در منابع من
با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید
عنوان ژورنال:
- Current topics in microbiology and immunology
دوره 301 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2006