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Advanced biotechnology using methyltransferase and its applications in bacteria: a mini review

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Abstract

Since prokaryotic restriction-modification (RM) systems protect the host by cleaving foreign DNA by restriction endonucleases, it is difficult to introduce engineered plasmid DNAs into newly isolated microorganisms whose RM system is not discovered. The prokaryotes also possess methyltransferases to protect their own DNA from the endonucleases. As those methyltransferases can be utilized to methylate engineered plasmid DNAs before transformation and to enhance the stability within the cells, the study on methyltransferases in newly isolated bacteria is essential for genetic engineering. Here, we introduce the mechanism of the RM system, specifically the methyltransferases and their biotechnological applications. These biotechnological strategies could facilitate plasmid DNA-based genetic engineering in bacteria strains that strongly defend against foreign DNA.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (No. NRF-2018R1A5A1025077), and by the Chung-Ang University Research Grants in 2020.

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  1. Jun Ren and Hyang-Mi Lee have contributed equally to this work.

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  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea

    Jun Ren, Hyang-Mi Lee, JunHao Shen & Dokyun Na

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Correspondence to Dokyun Na.

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Ren, J., Lee, HM., Shen, J. et al. Advanced biotechnology using methyltransferase and its applications in bacteria: a mini review. Biotechnol Lett 44, 33–44 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-021-03208-9

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