DNA methylation and silencing of gene expression

DNA methylation is associated with the silencing of gene expression. The pr edominant mechanism involves the methylation of DNA and the subsequent recr uitment of binding proteins that preferentially recognize methylated DNA. I n turn, these proteins associate with histone deacetylase and chromatin rem odelling complexes to cause the stabilization of condensed chromatin. Recen t studies have indicated that the opposite might also hold; namely, that ta rgeting of methylation might depend on altered chromatin structure. The fam ily of methyltransferases and methyl-binding proteins is expanding and beco ming better characterized. This review will focus on the mechanisms of meth ylation-associated silencing of gene expression.