MBD2

Function

Binds CpG islands in promoters where the DNA is methylated at position 5 of cytosine within CpG dinucleotides. Binds hemimethylated DNA as well. Recruits histone deacetylases and DNA methyltransferases. Acts as transcriptional repressor and plays a role in gene silencing. Functions as a scaffold protein, targeting GATAD2A and GATAD2B to chromatin to promote repression. May enhance the activation of some unmethylated cAMP-responsive promoters.

Tissue specificity

Highly expressed in brain, heart, kidney, stomach, testis and placenta.

Cellular localization

• Nucleus
• Nuclear, in discrete foci. Detected at replication foci in late S phase.

Alternative names

• Methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 2
• Demethylase
• Methyl-CpG-binding protein MBD2
• DMTase
• MBD2

Database links

• entrezGene:8932
• entrezGene:53615
• omim:603547
• omim:603573
• swissprot:Q9UBB5
• swissprot:O95983

Target type

Proteins

Primary research area

Epigenetics

Molecular weight

43255Da