title: Preferential binding of the methyl-CpG binding domain protein 2 at methylated transcriptional start site regions.
abstract: Methyl-CpG Binding Domain (MBD) proteins are thought to be key molecules in the interpretation of DNA methylation signals leading to gene silencing through recruitment of chromatin remodeling complexes. In cancer, the MBD-family member, MBD2, may be primarily involved in the repression of genes exhibiting methylated CpG at their 5' end. Here we ask whether MBD2 randomly associates methylated sequences, producing chance effects on transcription, or exhibits a more specific recognition of some methylated regions. Using chromatin and DNA immunoprecipitation, we analyzed MBD2 and RNA polymerase II deposition and DNA methylation in HeLa cells on arrays representing 25,500 promoter regions. This first whole-genome mapping revealed the preferential localization of MBD2 near transcription start sites (TSSs), within the region analyzed, 7.5 kb upstream through 2.45 kb downstream of 5' transcription start sites. Probe by probe analysis correlated MBD2 deposition and DNA methylation. Motif analysis did not reveal specific sequence motifs; however, CCG and CGC sequences seem to be overrepresented. Nonrandom association (multiple correspondence analysis, p < 0.0001) between silent genes, DNA methylation and MBD2 binding was observed. The association between MBD2 binding and transcriptional repression weakened as the distance between binding site and TSS increased, suggesting that MBD2 represses transcriptional initiation. This hypothesis may represent a functional explanation for the preferential binding of MBD2 at methyl-CpG in TSS regions.
authors: Université de Lyon, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, France.
authors: Amandine
authors: A
authors: Chatagnon
authors: Laury
authors: L
authors: Perriaud
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Nazaret
authors: Séverine
authors: S
authors: Croze
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Benhattar
authors: Joël
authors: J
authors: Lachuer
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Dante
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D018899:CpG Islands / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D024363:Transcription Initiation Site
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C489325:MBD2 protein, human; D004247:DNA; D012319:RNA Polymerase II