DNA methylation by wheat cytosine DNA methyltransferase: modulation by protease inhibitor E-64

Cytosine DNA methyltransferase isolated from wheat seedlings and purified in the presence of metalloprotease and serine protease inhibitors has molecular mass and specific activity equal to about 85 kDa and 250 units/mg protein, respectively. Apparent K(m) for AdoMet and [I]50 for AdoHcy values are about 6 microM and 12 microM, respectively. The enzyme is active in wide pH range (pH 5.5-8.5) and is inhibited by NaCl. The enzyme rapidly loses its methyltransferase activity in the absence of substrates. Using the cysteine protease inhibitor E-64 it has been shown that rapid enzyme inactivation is caused by disappearance of essential enzyme SH-groups but is not due to proteolytic enzyme cleavage.