Sequence-specific recognition of methylated DNA by human zinc-finger proteins

DNA methylation is an essential epigenetic mark. Three classes of mammalian proteins recognize methylated DNA: MBD proteins, SRA proteins and the zinc-finger proteins Kaiso, ZBTB4 and ZBTB38. The last three proteins can bind either methylated DNA or unmethylated consensus sequences; how this is achieved is largely unclear. Here, we report that the human zinc-finger proteins Kaiso, ZBTB4 and ZBTB38 can bind methylated DNA in a sequence-specific manner, and that they may use a mode of binding common to other zinc-finger proteins. This suggests that many other sequence-specific methyl binding proteins may exist.