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Methylation
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<p> Methylation, in the <a href="/facts/Chemistry/SrNqkGVm">chemical sciences</a>, is the addition of a <a href="/facts/Methyl_group/fkM97EMD">methyl group</a> on a <a href="/facts/Substrate_(chemistry)/6MnaV19h">substrate</a>, or the substitution of an atom (or group) by a methyl group. Methylation is a form of <a href="/facts/Alkylation/1rd5SNbt">alkylation</a>, with a methyl group replacing a <a href="/facts/Hydrogen/BoYHjl0J">hydrogen</a> atom. These terms are commonly used in <a href="/facts/Chemistry/SrNqkGVm">chemistry</a>, <a href="/facts/Biochemistry/fa2pWEBp">biochemistry</a>, <a href="/facts/Soil_science/nJ9SxpEE">soil science</a>, and <a href="/facts/Biology/1M1ee3pB">biology</a>. </p><p>In <a href="/facts/Biological_systems/yKqVbaxu">biological systems</a>, methylation is <a href="/facts/Catalysis/LPBS7TQC">catalyzed</a> by <a href="/facts/Enzyme/DSI1Fh7y">enzymes</a>; such methylation can be involved in modification of <a href="/facts/Heavy_metals/Cblmy8qI">heavy metals</a>, regulation of <a href="/facts/Gene_expression/alCPohLR">gene expression</a>, regulation of <a href="/facts/Protein/Jxmagu3E">protein function</a>, and <a href="/facts/RNA_processing/Hp9Ww9Nk">RNA processing</a>. <i>In vitro</i> methylation of tissue samples is also a way to reduce some <a href="/facts/Histology/yrI90zlU">histological staining artifacts</a>. The reverse of methylation is <a href="/facts/Demethylation/AvM5BLjD">demethylation</a>. </p>