Epigenetics and airways disease

Respiratory Research

Table 1 DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and methyl binding proteins. Dnmts establish and maintain methylation marks whilst methyl CpG binding proteins interpret these marks.

DNA methyltransferase	Activity	Function
DNMT1	Prefers hemi-methylated DNA	Maintenance of methylation, repression of transcription
DNMT2	Low activity in vitro	Non CpG methylation in Drosphilia
DNMT3a	De novo methylation	Imprinting and repression
DNMT3b	De novo and maintenance methylation	Repeat methylation, repression
DNMT3L	Not active, co-localizes with DNMT3a and 3b	Repeat methylation, repression
Methyl CpG binding protein	Specificity
MeCP2	Single methylated CpG	Repression
MBD1	Methylated and unmethylated DNA	Repression
MBD2	Methylated DNA	Repression
MBD3	Unmethylated DNA	Repression
MBD4	^5-meCpG/TpG mismatches	DNA repair,

Abbreviations: MeCP – Methyl-CpG-binding protein, MBD – methyl-CpG binding domain.

ISSN: 1465-993X