De novo Methyltransferase

De novo methyltransferase is an enzyme that adds methyl groups (chemical tags) to specific DNA regions, typically at the start of genes. This process helps establish new patterns of DNA methylation during cell development or differentiation, influencing gene activity without changing the underlying genetic code. Essentially, it "writes" new methylation marks onto the DNA, which can silence or activate genes, playing a crucial role in development, cellular function, and maintaining genome stability.