Dnmt3b - DNA methyltransferase 3B

This is one of two related genes encoding de novo DNA methyltransferases, which are responsible for the establishment of DNA methylation patterns in embryos. Loss of function of this gene results in severe developmental defects and loss of viability. Mutation of the related gene in humans causes immunodeficiency-centromeric instability-facial anomalies (ICF) syndrome. There is a pseudogene for this gene located adjacent to this gene in the same region of chromosome 2. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding multiple isoforms have been observed. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2012]