The genomes of bacteria, archaea, and phage contain small amounts of C5-methylcytosine, N4-methylcytosine, and N6-methyladenine. Base methylation takes place after DNA replication and is catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases that recognize specific target sequences. Prokaryotic DNA methyltransferases can be classified into two main types: (1) belonging to restriction-modification systems and (2) solitary (or "orphan") enzymes that lack a restriction enzyme partner. All known roles of DNA methylation involve control of interactions between DNA-binding proteins and their cognate sites. Such roles include protection from DNA restriction, strand discrimination during mismatch repair, cell cycle control, and regulation of transcription. DNA methylation often affects the interaction of bacterial pathogens with their hosts, raising the possibility of epigenetic therapies for infectious diseases.
Keywords: DNA methylation; Restriction-modification systems; methylome; methyltransferases.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.