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*CIL – Cell Image Library accession number. Please use this to reference an image.

CIL:7116*  Cite 
Description

The protein MeCP2 binds to symmetrically methylated CpG dinucleotides and is thought to transmit the (generally) repressive signals encoded in DNA methylation patterns. Mutations in MeCP2 lead to Rett syndrome. Here, MeCP2-DNA complexes have been imaged by AFM (Digital Instruments Nanoscope) in air using human MeCP2 and an 828 bp DNA sequence containing several methylated CpGs. MeCP2 molecules appear as bright particles in AFM images. Volume measurements of the complexes suggest that MeCP2 monomers (circular particles) and dimers (larger elliptical particles) are present and suggest that MeCP2 binds DNA cooperatively. Other images in the grouped set show looped structures and large complexes containing multiple DNA strands and MeCP2 molecules. These configurations are likely promoted by the multiple independent DNA-binding domains of MeCP2 and relevant to the in vivo interactions between MeCP2 and chromatin.

Biological Sources
NCBI Organism Classification
Homo sapiens
Cell Type
neuron
Cellular Component
nucleus
Biological Context
Biological Process
transcription regulation
Molecular Function
GO:0016565
Human Disease
Rett syndrome
Attribution
Names
Luda Shlyaktenko, Chris Woodcock
Pubmed
20679481
Citation
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
doi:10.7295/W9CIL7116
Archival Resource Key (ARK)
ark:/b7295/w9cil7116
Grouping This image is part of a group.
Imaging
Image Type
recorded image
Image Mode
microscopy
atomic force microscopy
Parameters Imaged
specimen height
Source of Contrast
specimen height
Processing History
unprocessed raw data
Sample Preparation
Methods
glutaraldehyde fixed tissue
Relation To Intact Cell
isolated subcellular component
Dimensions
Spatial Axis Image Size Pixel Size
X 512px 1.95nm
Y 512px 1.95nm