Methylation of DNA at cytosine residues plays an important role in regulation of gene expression, genomic imprinting and is essential for mammalian development. Hypermethylation of CpG islands in tumor suppressor genes or hypomethylation of bulk genomic DNA may be linked with development of cancer.
Methylation of DNA at cytosine residues
plays an important role in regulation of gene expression, genomic
imprinting and is essential for mammalian development.
Hypermethylation of CpG islands in tumor suppressor genes or
hypomethylation of bulk genomic DNA may be linked with development of
cancer.
To date, 3 families of mammalian DNA
methyltransferase genes have been identified which include Dnmt1,
Dnmt2 and Dnmt3. Dnmt1 is constitutively expressed in proliferating
cells and inactivation of this gene causes global demethylation of
genomic DNA and embryonic lethality.
Dnmt2 is expressed at low levels in
adult tissues and its inactivation does not affect DNA methylation or
maintenance of methylation. The Dnmt3 family members, Dnmt3a and
Dnmt3b, are strongly expressed in ES cells but their expression is
down regulated in differentiating ES cells and is low in adult
somatic tissue. Recently, it has been shown that naturally occurring
mutations of Dnmt3b gene occurs in patients with a rare autosomal
recessive disorder, termed ICF (immunodeficiency, centromeric
instability, and facial anomalies) syndrome.
IMGENEX India Pvt Ltd. the only biotech company in Orissa and one of its kinds in Eastern India. IMGENEX India started in Oct as an outsourcing branch of IMGENEX Corporation , San Diego, USA. Find out more information about Dnmt3a .
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IMGENEX India Pvt Ltd. the only biotech company in Orissa and one of its kinds in Eastern India. IMGENEX India started in Oct as an outsourcing branch of IMGENEX Corporation, San Diego, USA. Find out more information about Dnmt3a. |
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