DNA methylation is an important modification of DNA that plays a role in ge
nome management and in regulating gene expression during development. Methy
lation is carried out by DNA methyltransferases which catalyse the transfer
of a methyl group to bases within the DNA helix. Plants have at least thre
e classes of cytosine methyltransferase which differ in protein structure a
nd function. The METI family, homologues of the mouse Dnmt1 methyltransfera
se, most likely function as maintenance methyltransferases, but may also pl
ay a role in de novo methylation. The chromomethylases, which are unique to
plants, may preferentially methylate DNA in heterochromatin; the remaining
class, with similarity to Dnmt3 methyltransferases of mammals, are putativ
e de novo methyltransferases. The various classes of methyltransferase may
show differential activity on cytosines in different sequence contexts. Chr
omomethylases may preferentially methylate cytosines in CpNpG sequences whi
le the Arabidopsis METI methyltransferase shows a preference for cytosines
in CpG sequences. Additional proteins, for example DDM1, a member of the SN
F2/SWI2 family of chromatin remodelling proteins, are also required for met
hylation of plant DNA.