Abstract
We have investigated the interactions of the methyl-CpG binding transcriptional repressor MeCP2 with nucleosomal DNA. We find that MeCP2 forms discrete complexes with nucleosomal DNA associating with methyl-CpGs exposed in the major groove via the methyl-CpG-binding domain (MBD). In addition to the MBD, the carboxyl-terminal segment of MeCP2 facilitates binding both to naked DNA and to the nucleosome core. These observations provide a molecular mechanism by which MeCP2 can gain access to chromatin in order to target corepressor complexes that further modify chromatin structure.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 7008-7018 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Biochemistry |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 22 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 1 1999 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry