[5][6] DNA methylation is the major modification of eukaryotic genomes and plays an essential role in mammalian development.

Each of these proteins, with the exception of MBD3, is capable of binding specifically to methylated DNA.

The protein encoded by these genes may function as a mediator of the biological consequences of the methylation signal.

It is also reported that MBD2 and MBD3 recruit the NuRD complex to regions of DNA depending on their selective binding of methylated CpG sites.

Therefore, MBD2/NuRD and MBD3/NuRD define two distinct protein complexes with different biochemical and functional properties.