Abstract
In this short review the enzymatic properties of Dnmt1 are summarized. Studies on the specificity of Dnmt1 have shown that the enzymes has 30-40 fold preference for hemimethylated target sites. It methylates hemimethylated DNA in a processive reaction, moving on the DNA in a random walk. Binding of DNA to allosteric site(s) in the N-terminal part of the enzyme can lead to stimulation and inhibition of its catalytic activity depending on the nature of the substrate and effector.