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DNA Modification Methylases MeSH Descriptor Data 2025


MeSH Heading
DNA Modification Methylases
Tree Number(s)
D08.811.150.240
D08.811.913.555.500.350
Unique ID
D015254
RDF Unique Identifier
http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D015254
Scope Note
Enzymes that are part of the restriction-modification systems. They are responsible for producing a species-characteristic methylation pattern, on either adenine or cytosine residues, in a specific short base sequence in the host cell's own DNA. This methylated sequence will occur many times in the host-cell DNA and remain intact for the lifetime of the cell. Any DNA from another species which gains entry into a living cell and lacks the characteristic methylation pattern will be recognized by the restriction endonucleases of similar specificity and destroyed by cleavage. Most have been studied in bacterial systems, but a few have been found in eukaryotic organisms.
Entry Term(s)
DNA Modification Methyltransferases
Modification Methylases
Registry Numbers
EC 2.1.1.-
Previous Indexing
DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase (1975-1988)
Methyltransferases (1971-1988)
Public MeSH Note
1989
History Note
1989
Date Established
1989/01/01
Date of Entry
1988/05/17
Revision Date
2003/07/09
DNA Modification Methylases Preferred
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