Skip to main content

MeCP2

Meaning

MeCP2, or Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2, is a crucial transcriptional regulator that primarily functions as a reader of DNA methylation, a key epigenetic modification. This protein is highly expressed in the brain and plays an indispensable role in neuronal development, synaptic maturation, and the maintenance of mature neuronal function. As an epigenetic modulator, MeCP2 links environmental signals, including hormonal cues, to the long-term control of gene expression in the central nervous system. Dysfunction or mutation of the gene encoding MeCP2 is notably implicated in severe neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Rett syndrome, highlighting its central role in neuroendocrine and neurological integrity.