MethyltransfD12

• PFAM accession number: PF02086
• Interpro abstract (IPR012327):

  In prokaryotes, the major role of DNA methylation is to protect host DNA against degradation by restriction enzymes. There are 2 major classes of DNA methyltransferase that differ in the nature of the modifications they effect. The members of one class (C-MTases) methylate a ring carbon and form C5-methylcytosine (see IPR001525 ). Members of the second class (N-MTases) methylate exocyclic nitrogens and form either N4-methylcytosine (N4-MTases) or N6-methyladenine (N6-MTases). Both classes of MTase utilise the cofactor S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) as the methyl donor and are active as monomeric enzymes [ (PUBMED:7663118) ].

  N-6 adenine-specific DNA methylases ( EC 2.1.1.72 ) (A-Mtase) are enzymes that specifically methylate the amino group at the C-6 position of adenines in DNA. Such enzymes are found in the three existing types of bacterial restriction-modification systems (in type I system the A-Mtase is the product of the hsdM gene, and in type III it is the product of the mod gene). All of these enzymes recognise a specific sequence in DNA and methylate an adenine in that sequence. It has been shown [ (PUBMED:3323532) (PUBMED:3248728) (PUBMED:2541254) (PUBMED:7607512) ] that A-Mtases contain a conserved motif Asp/Asn-Pro-Pro-Tyr/Phe in their N-terminal section, this conserved region could be involved in substrate binding or in the catalytic activity. The structure of N6-MTase TaqI (M.TaqI) has been resolved to 2.4 A [ (PUBMED:7971991) ]. The molecule folds into 2 domains, an N-terminal catalytic domain, which contains the catalytic and cofactor binding sites, and comprises a central 9-stranded beta-sheet, surrounded by 5 helices; and a C-terminal DNA recognition domain, which is formed by 4 small beta-sheets and 8 alpha-helices. The N- and C-terminal domains form a cleft that accommodates the DNA substrate. A classification of N-MTases has been proposed, based on conserved motif (CM) arrangements [ (PUBMED:7607512) ]. According to this classification, N6-MTases that have a DPPY motif (CM II) occuring after the FxGxG motif (CM I) are designated D12 class N6-adenine MTases.

• GO process: DNA methylation on adenine (GO:0032775)
• GO function: site-specific DNA-methyltransferase (adenine-specific) activity (GO:0009007)

This is a PFAM domain. For full annotation and more information, please see the PFAM entry MethyltransfD12