An epigenetic regulator: methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 1 (MBD1)

Lu Li; Bi-Feng Chen; Wai-Yee Chan

doi:10.3390/ijms16035125

An epigenetic regulator: methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 1 (MBD1)

Int J Mol Sci. 2015 Mar 5;16(3):5125-40. doi: 10.3390/ijms16035125.

Authors

Lu Li^{1

2}, Bi-Feng Chen^{3

4}, Wai-Yee Chan^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ The Chinese University of Hong Kong-Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health Joint Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China. s1155025779@cuhk.edu.hk.
² The Chinese University of Hong Kong-Shandong University Joint Laboratory on Reproductive Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China. s1155025779@cuhk.edu.hk.
³ The Chinese University of Hong Kong-Shandong University Joint Laboratory on Reproductive Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China. cbifeng@whut.edu.cn.
⁴ Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Sciences, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China. cbifeng@whut.edu.cn.
⁵ The Chinese University of Hong Kong-Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health Joint Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China. chanwy@cuhk.edu.hk.
⁶ The Chinese University of Hong Kong-Shandong University Joint Laboratory on Reproductive Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China. chanwy@cuhk.edu.hk.

Abstract

DNA methylation is an important form of epigenetic regulation in both normal development and cancer. Methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 1 (MBD1) is highly related to DNA methylation. Its MBD domain recognizes and binds to methylated CpGs. This binding allows it to trigger methylation of H3K9 and results in transcriptional repression. The CXXC3 domain of MBD1 makes it a unique member of the MBD family due to its affinity to unmethylated DNA. MBD1 acts as an epigenetic regulator via different mechanisms, such as the formation of the MCAF1/MBD1/SETDB1 complex or the MBD1-HDAC3 complex. As methylation status always changes along with carcinogenesis or neurogenesis, MBD1 with its interacting partners, including proteins and non-coding RNAs, participates in normal or pathological processes and functions in different regulatory systems. Because of the important role of MBD1 in epigenetic regulation, it is a good candidate as a therapeutic target for diseases.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Carcinogenesis
DNA Methylation
DNA-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
Epigenesis, Genetic*
Humans
Neoplasms / genetics
Neoplasms / metabolism
Neoplasms / pathology
Nervous System / metabolism
Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors
Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

DNA-Binding Proteins
MBD1 protein, human
Transcription Factors