title: Purification, sequence, and cellular localization of a novel chromosomal protein that binds to methylated DNA.
abstract: Methylation of mammalian DNA can lead to repression of transcription and alteration of chromatin structure. Recent evidence suggests that both effects are the result of an interaction between the methylated sites and methyl-CpG-binding proteins (MeCPs). MeCP1 has previously been detected in crude nuclear extracts. Here we report the identification, purification, and cDNA cloning of a novel MeCP called MeCP2. Unlike MeCP1, the new protein is able to bind to DNA that contains a single methyl-CpG pair. By staining with an antibody, we show that the distribution of MeCP2 along the chromosomes parallels that of methyl-CpG. In mouse, for example, MeCP2 is concentrated in pericentromeric heterochromatin, which contains a large fraction (about 40%) of all genomic 5-methylcytosine.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Meehan
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Henzel
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maurer-Fogy
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jeppesen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bird
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004276:DNA, Satellite / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008745:Methylation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004276:DNA, Satellite; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004247:DNA