MBD 1

Methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 1 also known as MBD1 is a transcriptional repressor that binds CpG islands in promoters where the DNA is methylated at position 5 of cytosine within CpG dinucleotides. MBD1 is a nuclear protein belonging to the methyl CPG binding domain family with three CXXC-type zinc fingers and a MBD (methyl-CpG-binding) domain. This intracellular protein is also known to play a prime role in gene silencing by recruiting AFT7IP, which in turn recruits factors such as the histone methyltransferase SETDB1. MBD1 forms a complex with SETDB1 and ATF7IP that represses transcription and couples DNA methylation and histone 'Lys-9' trimethylation. It is widely expressed in most of the tissues and is upregulated by interferons.