Download MendeleyMeCP2 is a microsatellite binding protein that protects CA repeats from nucleosome invasion.
Ibrahim, A., Papin, C., Mohideen-Abdul, K., Le Gras, S., Stoll, I., Bronner, C., Dimitrov, S., Klaholz, B.P., Hamiche, A.(2021) Science 372
- PubMed: 34324427
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abd5581
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
6YWW - PubMed Abstract:
The Rett syndrome protein MeCP2 was described as a methyl-CpG-binding protein, but its exact function remains unknown. Here we show that mouse MeCP2 is a microsatellite binding protein that specifically recognizes hydroxymethylated CA repeats. Depletion of MeCP2 alters chromatin organization of CA repeats and lamina-associated domains and results in nucleosome accumulation on CA repeats and genome-wide transcriptional dysregulation. The structure of MeCP2 in complex with a hydroxymethylated CA repeat reveals a characteristic DNA shape, with considerably modified geometry at the 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, which is recognized specifically by Arg 133 , a key residue whose mutation causes Rett syndrome. Our work identifies MeCP2 as a microsatellite DNA binding protein that targets the 5hmC-modified CA-rich strand and maintains genome regions nucleosome-free, suggesting a role for MeCP2 dysfunction in Rett syndrome.
Organizational Affiliation:
Institute of Genetics and of Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), 67400 Illkirch, France.
