SETMAR

Description

The SETMAR (SET domain and mariner transposase fusion gene) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 3.

Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase SETMAR is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the SETMAR gene. SETMAR contains a SET domain that confers its histone methyltransferase activity, on Lys-4 and Lys-36 of Histone H3, both of which are specific tags for epigenetic activation. It has been identified as a repair protein as it mediates dimethylation at Lys-36 at double-strand break locations, a signal enhancing NHEJ repair. Anthropoid primates, including humans, have a version of the protein fused to a Mariner/Tc1 transposase. This fusion region provides the DNA-binding abilities for the protein as well as some nuclease activity. The transposase activity is lost due to the presence of several inactivating mutations, including the D610N mutation. However, the domesticated transposase domain retains its ability to bind to the mariner repeat elements in the genome. SETMAR has been found to affect the expression and splicing of genes close to or containing mariner repeat elements via its functions in histone methylation. Both the SET, via its methyltransferase activity, and the mariner, with its DNA-binding and nuclease activities, domains of SETMAR have been shown to act in non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) to repair DNA double strand breaks.

Protein derived from the fusion of a methylase with the transposase of an Hsmar1 transposon that plays a role in DNA double-strand break repair, stalled replication fork restart and DNA integration. A DNA-binding protein, it is indirectly recruited to sites of DNA damage through protein-protein interactions. It also has a sequence-specific DNA-binding activity that recognizes the 19-mer core of the 5'-terminal inverted repeats (TIRs) of the Hsmar1 element and displays a DNA nicking and end joining activity. In parallel, it has a histone methyltransferase activity and methylates 'Lys-4' and 'Lys-36' of histone H3. Specifically, it mediates dimethylation of H3 'Lys-36' at sites of DNA double-strand break and may recruit proteins required for efficient DSB repair through non-homologous end-joining. It also regulates replication fork processing, promoting replication fork restart and regulating DNA decatenation through stimulation of the topoisomerase activity of TOP2A.

SETMAR is also known as METNASE, Mar1.

Associated Diseases

WES Whole Exome Sequencing