On the substrate specificity of DNA methyltransferases: adenine-N 6 DNA methyltransferases also modify cytosine residues at position N 4
Methylation of DNA is important in many organisms and essential in mammals. Nucleobases
can be methylated at the adenine-N 6, cytosine-N 4, or cytosine-C 5 atoms by specific DNA
methyltransferases. We show here that the M. EcoRV, M. EcoRI, and Escherichia coli dam
methyltransferases as well as the N-and C-terminal domains of the M. FokI enzyme, which
were formerly all classified as adenine-N 6 DNA methyltransferases, also methylate cytosine
residues at position N 4. Kinetic analyses demonstrate that the rate of methylation of …
can be methylated at the adenine-N 6, cytosine-N 4, or cytosine-C 5 atoms by specific DNA
methyltransferases. We show here that the M. EcoRV, M. EcoRI, and Escherichia coli dam
methyltransferases as well as the N-and C-terminal domains of the M. FokI enzyme, which
were formerly all classified as adenine-N 6 DNA methyltransferases, also methylate cytosine
residues at position N 4. Kinetic analyses demonstrate that the rate of methylation of …
