Methyl-CpG binding proteins in the nervous system  

作　　者：Leah HUTNICK 

机构地区：[1]Department of Human Genetics and Interdepartmental Program of Neuroscience, David Geffen School of Medicine, P.O. Box957088, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7088, USA

出　　处：《Cell Research》2005年第4期255-261,共7页细胞研究（英文版）

摘　　要：Classical methyl-CpG binding proteins contain the conserved DNA binding motif methyl-cytosine binding domain(MBD), which preferentially binds to methylated CpG dinucleotides. These proteins serve as transcriptional repressors,mediating gene silencing via DNA cytosine methylation. Mutations in methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) have beenlinked to the human mental retardation disorder Rett syndrome, suggesting an important role for methyl-CpG bindingproteins in brain development and function. This mini-review summarizes the recent advances in studying the diversefunctions of MeCP2 as a prototype for other methyl-CpG binding proteins in the development and function of thevertebrate nervous system.

关 键 词：MECP2 MBD proteins DNA methylation neuronal differentiation chromatin remodeling gene silencing histone modification. 

分 类 号：Q593.2[生物学—生物化学]