Methyltransferase Like Protein 21D (METTL21D)

METTL21D belongs to the methyltransferase superfamily. A methyltransferase is a type of transferase enzyme that transfers a methyl group from a donor to an acceptor.Methylation often occurs on nucleic bases in DNA or amino acids in protein structures. Methytransferases use a reactive methyl group bound to sulfur in S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) as the methyl donor.DNA methylation is often utilized to silence and regulate genes without changing the original DNA sequence, an example of epigenetic modification. This methylation occurs on cytosine residues. DNA methylation may be necessary for normal growth from embryonic stages in mammals. When mutant embryonic stem cells lacking the murine DNA methyltransferase gene were introduced to a germline of mice, they caused a recessive lethal phenotype.