Dnmt3b, de novo DNA methyltransferase, interacts with SUMO-1 and Ubc9 through its N-terminal region and is subject to modification by SUMO-1.

Dnmt3b, a DNA methyltransferase, is essential for mammalian development potentially through its transcription repression activity. To comprehend the underlying regulatory mechanism of Dnmt3b, we isolated small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 (SUMO-1) and Ubc9 as Dnmt3b-interacting proteins using yeast two-hybrid screens. Deletion analysis and colocalization experiment demonstrated that Dnmt3b interacts with SUMO-1 and Ubc9 at its N-terminal region. We also confirmed the modification of Dnmt3b by SUMO-1 in vivo. These results suggest that sumoylation may constitute a regulation mechanism of Dnmt3b in vivo. (c)2001 Elsevier Science.