DNA methyl transferase 1: regulatory mechanisms and implications in health and disease.

ABSTRACT: DNA methylation serves as the principal form of post-replicative epigenetic modification. It is intricately involved in gene regulation and silencing in eukaryotic cells, making significant contributions to cell phenotype. Much of it is mitotically inherited; some is passed on from one filial generation to the next. Establishment and maintenance of DNA methylation patterns in mammals is governed by three catalytically active DNA methyltransferases - DNMT3a, DNMT3b and DNMT1. While the first two are responsible mainly for de novo methylation, DNMT1 maintains the methylation patterns by preferentially catalyzing S-adenosyl methionine-dependant transfer of a methyl group to cytosine at hemimethylated CpG sites generated as a result of semi-conservative DNA replication. DNMT1 contains numerous

SUBMITTER: Dhe-Paganon S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3180029 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature