This is attributed to the capability of the MBD proteins to interact with repressing complexes such as Nucleosome Remodeling and histone Deacetylation (NuRD), RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) and REST corepressor 1 (CoREST), as well as with various chromatin remodelers such as histone deacetylases (HDACs), Dnmt1, Polycomb, Brahma and Alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked (ATRX) (Jones et al., 1998; Nan et al., 1998, 2007; Zhang et al., 1999; Lunyak et al., 2002; Fuks et al., 2003; Kimura & Shiota, 2003; Harikrishnan et al., 2005). The gene discussed is REST; the disease is alpha thalassemia-X-linked intellectual disability syndrome.