Oxidative damage to methyl-CpG sequences inhibits the binding of the methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) of methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2)

Cytosine methylation in CpG dinucleotides is believed to be important in gene regulation, and is generally associated with reduced levels of transcription. Methylation-mediated gene silencing involves a series of DNA-protein and protein-protein interactions that begins with the binding of methyl-CpG binding proteins (MBPs) followed by the recruitment of histone-modifying enzymes that together promote chromatin condensation and inactivation. It is widely known that alterations in methylation patterns, and associated gene activities, are often found in human tumors. However, the mechanisms by which methylation patterns are altered are not currently understood. In this paper, we investigate the impact of…

• LL
  Loma Linda University
• NI
  National Institutes of Health