Involved in de novo DNA methylation. Controls asymmetric and CpNpG methylation. Required for FWA gene silencing but not for the maintenance of SUP gene silencing. Functionally redundant to CMT3 to maintain non-CpG methylation. Involved in RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) (PubMed:12121623, PubMed:12151602, PubMed:14680640). Acts as major DNA methyltransferase in the RdDM pathway, and is essential for RNA-directed de novo DNA methylation of cytosines in all sequence contexts (PubMed:21060858, PubMed:21212233). Associates with long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) produced by RNA polymerase V (Pol V). This association is dependent on AGO4 and IDN2, and results in DNA methylation of RdDM target loci (PubMed:24862207). a 2'-deoxycytidine in DNA + S-adenosyl-L-methionine = a 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine in DNA + H(+) + S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine Interacts with RDM1. Peri-nucleolar. Expressed in roots, inflorescences and at lower levels in leaves. DRM2 is expressed at much higher levels than DRM1, which is scarcely detected, suggesting that DRM2 is the predominant de novo methylase. Belongs to the class I-like SAM-binding methyltransferase superfamily. DRM-methyltransferase family. Was originally thought to correspond to two different genes At5g14620 and At5g14630. Was originally thought to correspond to two different genes At5g14620 and At5g14630.