DNA methylation is the major modification of eukaryotic genomes and plays an essential role in mammalian development. Human proteins
MECP2,
MBD1,
MBD2, MBD3, and
MBD4 comprise a family of nuclear proteins related by the presence in each of a
methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD). However, unlike the other family members, MBD3 is not capable of binding to methylated DNA but instead binds to
hydroxymethylated DNA. The predicted MBD3 protein shares 71% and 94% identity with MBD2 (isoform 1) and mouse Mbd3. MBD3 is a subunit of the
NuRD, a multisubunit complex containing nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylase activities. MBD3 mediates the association of metastasis-associated protein 2 (MTA2) with the core histone deacetylase complex. == Interactions ==