| abstract |
The present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence encoding a bifunctional polypeptide comprising the DNA binding domain of a protein belonging to the family of methyl-CpG binding proteins (MBD) and the Fc portion of an antibody. Further disclosed are a nucleic acid molecule, a vector comprising the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule, a host cell, and a method for producing the polypeptide. Furthermore, the present application provides antibodies that specifically bind the polypeptides and compositions, particularly diagnostic compositions comprising the nucleic acid molecules, vectors, host cells, polypeptides or antibodies. Further provided are methods and uses of using the polypeptides of the invention for detecting methylated DNA, particularly in tumor tissue or tumor cells. |