Description
Epigenetic inactivation of genes plays a critical role in many important human diseases, especially in cancer. A core mechanism for epigenetic inactivation of the genes is methylation of CpG islands in genome DNA. Methylation of CpG islands involves the course in which DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) transfer a methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine to the fifth carbon position of the cytosines. Four active Dnmts have been identified in mammals. They are named DNMT1, DNMT2, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B. Inhibition of Dnmts maylead to demethylation and expression of the silenced genes, thus Dnmt inhibitors are currently being developed as potential anticancer agents