Methyl-CpG-binding protein (MBD) is a family of epigenetic gene regulators. This model highlights the main features in chains A, C, and D. The main protein has been highlighted in red, while the short DNA helix has been highlighted in blue. Chain A is the MBD protein domain, while C and D are each strands of complimentary DNA. MBD proteins recognize methylated CpG sites in DNA and regulate transcription by recruiting chromatin-modifying complexes. Interactions occur at the major groove of the DNA and at the DNA backbone. studies found that MBD proteins are less dependent on sequences neighbouring the methylated CpG than previously thought (Liu et al, 2018).