Genome-wide views of methylation readers

Abstract

Methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) proteins have important roles as readers of DNA methylation, but their genome-wide profiling has been impeded by a lack of suitable antibodies for chromatin immunoprecipitation. These authors instead used controlled ectopic expression of tagged MBD proteins. Working with mouse embryonic stem cells and derived neuronal cells, they generated genome-wide profiles for wild-type and mutant forms of all MBD family proteins. Insights were gained into the role of CpG methylation in the binding of these proteins and the functions of their different domains.