DNMT3A (DNA methyltransferase 3A) is a critical enzyme responsible for establishing de novo DNA methylation patterns during embryonic development and cellular differentiation. It catalyzes the transfer of methyl groups to cytosine residues in CpG dinucleotides, a process essential for regulating gene expression, genomic imprinting, and maintaining chromosomal stability. Unlike DNMT1. which preserves methylation during DNA replication, DNMT3A works with its homolog DNMT3B and regulatory partner DNMT3L to set up tissue-specific methylation profiles. Dysregulation of DNMT3A is linked to developmental disorders, cancer (e.g., acute myeloid leukemia), and neurological conditions, with mutations often correlating with poor prognosis.
Antibodies targeting DNMT3A are vital tools for studying its expression, localization, and functional roles. These antibodies are widely used in techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP-seq). Specificity is crucial due to structural similarities among DNMT family members. High-quality DNMT3A antibodies typically recognize epitopes in the N-terminal regulatory or C-terminal catalytic domains, helping distinguish between isoforms (e.g., DNMT3A1 vs. DNMT3A2). Researchers must validate antibodies using knockout controls to ensure accuracy, particularly given DNMT3A’s low abundance in certain tissues. Such tools advance insights into epigenetic mechanisms and disease-related aberrations in DNA methylation.