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Description

CpG methylation is an epigenetic modification that is important for embryonic development, imprinting, and X-chromosome inactivation. Studies in mice have demonstrated that DNA methylation is required for mammalian development. DNMT3 is a developmentally regulated DNA methyltransferase. DNMT3A2 is a second isoform of DNMT3 that is expressed from an alternative promoter. DNMT3A2 localizes to euchromatin and is thought to function in de novo methylation, rather than maintenance methylation. Binding of DNMT3L (DNMT3-like protein) to DNMT3A2 promotes a dramatic reorganization of DNMT3A2 subunits and leads to the formation of specific complexes with enhanced DNA methyltransferase activity. DNMT3A2 targets endogenous DNMT3L to embryonic stem cell chromatin and induces regional DNA methylation.