MeCP2 Binding Cooperativity Inhibits DNA Modification-Specific Recognition

Sequence‐specific DNA binding by AT‐hook motifs in MeCP2

MeCP2 is a chromatin-associated protein that is mutated in Rett syndrome. Its methyl-CpG-binding domain interacts with DNA containing methylated cytosine, but other modes of recruitment to the genome have also been proposed. Here, we use in vitro and in vivo assays to investigate the DNA binding specificity of two AT-hook motifs in MeCP2. One exhibits robust sequence-specific DNA binding, where...

Structure-specific binding of MeCP2 to four-way junction DNA through its methyl CpG-binding domain

MeCP2, whose methylated DNA-binding domain (MBD) binds preferentially to DNA containing 5Me-CpG relative to linear unmethylated DNA, also binds preferentially, and with similar affinity, to unmethylated four-way DNA junctions through the MBD. The Arg133Cys (R133C) mutation in the MBD, a Rett syndrome mutation that abolishes binding to methylated DNA, leads to only a slight reduction in the affi...

Correction: Brain Region-Specific Expression of MeCP2 Isoforms Correlates with DNA Methylation within Mecp2 Regulatory Elements

MeCP2 is a critical epigenetic regulator in brain and its abnormal expression or compromised function leads to a spectrum of neurological disorders including Rett Syndrome and autism. Altered expression of the two MeCP2 isoforms, MeCP2E1 and MeCP2E2 has been implicated in neurological complications. However, expression, regulation and functions of the two isoforms are largely uncharacterized. P...

Structure-Based Analysis of Cooperativity in Protein-DNA Recognition

A MODEL FOR THE BASIC HELIX- LOOPHELIX MOTIF AND ITS SEQUENCE SPECIFIC RECOGNITION OF DNA

A three dimensional model of the basic Helix-Loop-Helix motif and its sequence specific recognition of DNA is described. The basic-helix I is modeled as a continuous ?-helix because no ?-helix breaking residue is found between the basic region and the first helix. When the basic region of the two peptide monomers are aligned in the successive major groove of the cognate DNA, the hydrophobi...