DNA methyltransferases and methyl-binding proteins of mammals

• Published in: Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 243 - 252
• Main Authors: Lan, Jie, Hua, Song, He, Xiaoning, Zhang, Yong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China 01.04.2010
• Subjects: Animals; Chromatin - metabolism; Chromosomes, Human, X; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases - genetics; DNA Methylation; DNA Modification Methylases - metabolism; DNA序列; DNA甲基化; Epigenesis, Genetic; Gene Expression Regulation; Genomics; Humans; Protein Isoforms; Recombination, Genetic; Species Specificity; X Chromosome - metabolism; X Chromosome Inactivation; X染色体失活; 哺乳动物; 染色质结构; 甲基转移酶; 结合蛋白; 遗传修饰
• ISSN: 1672-9145; 1745-7270
• DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmq015

In mammals, DNA methylation, characterized by the transfer of the methyl group from S-adenosylmethionines to a base （mainly referred to cytosine）, acts as a major epigenetic modification. In parallel to DNA sequences arrangement, modification of methylation to DNA sequences has far-reaching influence on biological func- tions and activities, for it involves controlling gene tran- scription, regulating chromatin structure, sustaining genome stability and integrity, maintaining parental imprinting and X-chromosome inactivation, suppressing homologous recombination as well as limiting transposa- ble elements, during which DNA methyltransferases （DNMTs） and methyl-binding proteins play important roles. Their aberrance can give rise to dysregulation of gene expression, cell maltransformation and so on. Hence, it is necessary to gain a good understanding of these two important kinds of proteins, which will help to better investigate the epigenetic mechanisms and manipulate the modifications according to our will based on its reversibil- ity. Here we briefly review our current understanding of DNMTs and methyl-binding proteins in mammals.