Dnmt3b

By Jamshed Arslan Pharm.D.

By Jamshed Arslan Pharm.D.

Epigenetics is the process of heritable change in gene activity despite alteration of the hosts DNA sequence, essentially causing a change in a phenotype without a change in the genotype of a host. To change the gene sequence without interfering with the DNA is accomplished by histone and DNA methylation.  Gene silencing in DNA methylation is carried out by DNA methyltransferases 1, 2 and 3a/b (DNMT1, DNMT2, DNMT3A/B). On a broad level, DNMT’s methylate the fifth carbon of cytosine residues in DNA within CG dinucleotides.

Epigenetics is the study of heritable change in gene activity despite alteration of the hosts DNA sequence.  Change in gene activity done independently of the DNA sequence is achieved by way of histone and DNA methylation.  Gene silencing in DNA methylation is carried out by DNA methyltransferases 1, 2 and 3a/b (DNMT1, DNMT2, DNMT3A/B). On a broad level, DNMTs methylate the fifth carbon of cytosine residues in DNA within CG dinucleotides.

DNA methylation plays a critical role the long-term silencing of transcription and is essential for processes such as embryonic development, germline differentiation, and tissue maturation.

Dnmt1 belongs to the C5-methyltransferase family that repairs cytosines in dsDNA using a nucleophilic attack mechanism. Dnmt1 is the most abundant mammalian DNA methyltransferase. It is the key methylation maintenance enzyme for both DNA replication/repair and de novo methylation during somatic cell development and differentiation.

DNA-methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B), also known as DNA methyltransferase HsaIIIB, is a member of the class I-like SAM-binding methyltransferase superfamily and C5-methyltransferase family. DNMT3B plays an essential role in the establishment of DNA methylation patterns during development and is vital for genome-wide de novo methylation.

We at Novus Biologicals recently extended our antibody catalog to include several embryonic stem cells (ESC) antibodies validated for use in FACS (fluorescent activated cell sorting) assays. Among them was Oct4, which recently became the focus of an interesting study into the human aging process.