MBD3 cDNA Clone – Methyl-Cpg Binding Domain Protein 3 (Human)

DNA methylation is the major modification of eukaryotic genomes and plays an essential role in mammalian development. This gene belongs to a family of nuclear proteins which are characterized by the presence of a methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD). The encoded protein is a subunit of the NuRD, a multisubunit complex containing nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylase activities. Unlike the other family members, the encoded protein is not capable of binding to methylated DNA. The protein mediates the association of metastasis-associated protein 2 with the core histone deacetylase complex. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants of this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2013]

MBD3: methyl-CpG binding (MBD) proteins appear to bind differentially methylated domains (DMDs) of DNA, to recruit repression complexes, and to silence the locus. The methyl CpG binding domain of human MBD3 may not directly bind mCpG but does interact with the NuRD/Mi2 components HDAC1 and MTA2. Plays a role in histone deacetylation and nucleosome remodeling. Increased levels have been reported in lung cancer and glioblastomas and may be a therapeutic target.

Protein type: Transcription, coactivator/corepressor; Gene silencing

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 19p13.3

Cellular Component: nuclear chromatin; nucleoplasm; protein complex

Molecular Function: DNA binding; histone deacetylase activity; methyl-CpG binding; nucleosomal DNA binding; protein binding

Biological Process: ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling; methylation-dependent chromatin silencing; negative regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter