Artificial/Forceful methylation of a specific DNA sequence in humans-Is it possible?

[studentt]

Hi people! This is my first time using this forum. I am currently a student in high school who is really interested in biology. I am enrolled in a class where the students research a branch of science and conduct experiments with their mentors.

I am researching epigenetics/telomeres. For this upcoming science competition, I have created a research proposal. However, I don't know if it is doable.
My question for you guys is: Is artificially/forcefully methylating a specific DNA sequence in humans possible? I have searched the Internet, and came across DNA methyltransferase, which includes DNMT1, as well as DAM methylase. Each of these enzymes is responsible for the addition of a methyl group to a specific nucleotide in a given gene sequence. Could these enzymes be used in any way to methylate a specific gene? If not, please enlighten me with techniques to accomplish this. The proposal for the competition is due soon and I also have midterms to worry about, so any information would take off a lot of stress.

Thank you all so much.

[mmorgan]

Originally Posted by studentt

Hi people! This is my first time using this forum. I am currently a student in high school who is really interested in biology. I am enrolled in a class where the students research a branch of science and conduct experiments with their mentors.

I am researching epigenetics/telomeres. For this upcoming science competition, I have created a research proposal. However, I don't know if it is doable.
My question for you guys is: Is artificially/forcefully methylating a specific DNA sequence in humans possible? I have searched the Internet, and came across DNA methyltransferase, which includes DNMT1, as well as DAM methylase. Each of these enzymes is responsible for the addition of a methyl group to a specific nucleotide in a given gene sequence. Could these enzymes be used in any way to methylate a specific gene? If not, please enlighten me with techniques to accomplish this. The proposal for the competition is due soon and I also have midterms to worry about, so any information would take off a lot of stress.

Thank you all so much.

DAM has been used to artificially methylate eukaryotic genes by fusing it to transcription factors (the technique is called DAM-ID). Perhaps you could engineer designer zinc fingers or TALEs fused to a methyltransferase to target specific genes.

[berton]

In this case you can also find terms like H3K9me2 - and the 'me2' means dimethylation Sometimes shortcut 'ac' is also useful (it means acetylation)