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Domain Structure of the Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, and Dnmt3b DNA Methyltransferases

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DNA Methyltransferases - Role and Function

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 945))

Abstract

In mammals, three DNA methyltransferases, Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, and Dnmt3b, have been identified. Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b are responsible for establishing DNA methylation patterns produced through their de novo-type DNA methylation activity in implantation stage embryos and during germ cell differentiation. Dnmt3-like (Dnmt3l), which is a member of the Dnmt3 family but does not possess DNA methylation activity, was reported to be indispensable for global methylation in germ cells. Once the DNA methylation patterns are established, maintenance-type DNA methyltransferase Dnmt1 faithfully propagates them to the next generation via replication. All Dnmts possess multiple domains, and in this chapter, the structures and functions of these domains are described.

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Abbreviations

AdoHcy:

S-Adenosyl-L-homocysteine

AdoMet:

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine

DMR:

Differentially methylated region

ES cells:

Embryonic stem cells

ICF syndrome:

Immunodeficiency, centromeric instability, and facial anomalies syndrome

NTD:

The N-terminal independently folded domain

RFTS domain:

Replication foci-targeting sequence domain

SRA domain:

The SET and RING-associated domain

TDG:

Thymine DNA glycosylase

Tet enzyme:

Ten-eleven translocation enzyme

TRD:

The target recognition domain

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

    Shoji Tajima, Isao Suetake & Hironobu Kimura

  2. CREST/AMED, 1-7-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan

    Isao Suetake

  3. Laboratory of Supramolecular Crystallography, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

    Kohei Takeshita & Atsushi Nakagawa

  4. PRESTO/JST, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan

    Kohei Takeshita

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  1. Shoji Tajima
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  2. Isao Suetake
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  3. Kohei Takeshita
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  4. Atsushi Nakagawa
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  5. Hironobu Kimura
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Correspondence to Shoji Tajima .

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  1. Institut für Biochemie, Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany

    Albert Jeltsch

  2. BioMed X Innovation Center, Heidelberg, Germany

    Renata Z. Jurkowska

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Tajima, S., Suetake, I., Takeshita, K., Nakagawa, A., Kimura, H. (2016). Domain Structure of the Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, and Dnmt3b DNA Methyltransferases. In: Jeltsch, A., Jurkowska, R. (eds) DNA Methyltransferases - Role and Function. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 945. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43624-1_4

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