DNA Cytosine-5 Methyltransferase
IPR050390
Definition
The C5-methyltransferase family is comprised of enzymes that primarily methylate cytosine residues within specific DNA sequences, playing a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression, maintenance of DNA methylation patterns, and protection of DNA from endonuclease cleavage. Members of this family recognize various DNA motifs, often methylating the cytosine at the 5' position. Some members preferentially methylate hemimethylated DNA, contributing to epigenetic inheritance by preserving methylation patterns during DNA replication and cell division. Others are part of restriction-modification systems, protecting bacterial genomes from phage infections by methylating specific sequences and thereby preventing cleavage by corresponding restriction endonucleases. This family also includes enzymes involved in the defense against phages through systems like DISARM. In plants, these methyltransferases are involved in genomic imprinting, embryogenesis, and seed viability, often targeting CHG and CpG sites for methylation, which is essential for gene silencing and suppression of transposable elements.
5 human proteins with this domain
Each is a reviewed human protein in the Seroatlas serome and a potential autoantibody target; this domain groups them into one antibody-relevant category. Every entry links to its own record.
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