Required for genome-wide de novo methylation and is essential for the establishment of DNA methylation patterns during development. DNA methylation is coordinated with methylation of histones. It modifies DNA in a non-processive manner and also methylates non-CpG sites. May preferentially methylate DNA linker between 2 nucleosomal cores and is inhibited by histone H1. Plays a role in paternal and maternal imprinting. Required for methylation of most imprinted loci in germ cells. Acts as a transcriptional corepressor for ZNF238. Can actively repress transcription through the recruitment of HDAC activity
[1]"Cloning, expression and chromosome locations of the human DNMT3 gene family."Xie S., Wang Z., Okano M., Nogami M., Li Y., He W.-W., Okumura K., Li E.Gene 236:87-95(1999) [2]"A novel Dnmt3a isoform produced from an alternative promoter localizes to eu
