Skip to main content

DNA Methyltransferases (DNMTs)

Meaning

DNA Methyltransferases, abbreviated as DNMTs, are a family of enzymes critical for regulating gene expression by catalyzing the transfer of a methyl group to cytosine bases within DNA, typically at CpG dinucleotides. This process, known as DNA methylation, is a primary epigenetic mechanism that generally leads to transcriptional silencing of the associated gene. DNMTs are essential for normal development and play a significant role in the stability of the genome.