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DNA methylation imprints on the IG‐DMR of the Dlk1 – Gtl2 domain in mouse male germline
Author(s) -
Hiura Hitoshi,
Komiyama Junichi,
Shirai Motomu,
Obata Yayoi,
Ogawa Hidehiko,
Kono Tomohiro
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2007.02.034
Subject(s) - germline , biology , genomic imprinting , methylation , dna methylation , genetics , allele , gene , differentially methylated regions , bisulfite sequencing , epigenetics , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression
Mouse genomes show a large cluster of imprinted genes at the Dlk1 – Gtl2 domain in the distal region of chromosome 12. An intergenic‐differentially methylated region (IG‐DMR) located between Dlk1 and Gtl2 is specifically methylated in the male germline; IG‐DMR regulates the parental allele‐specific expression of imprinted genes. Here, we show the resetting of IG‐DMR methylation marks during male germ‐cell differentiation. For parental allele‐specific methylation analysis, polymorphisms were detected in a 2.6‐kb IG‐DMR in three mouse strains. Bisulfite methylation analysis showed erasure of the marks by E14 and re‐establishment before birth. The IG‐DMR methylation status was maintained in spermatogonia and spermatocytes of mature testes. The IG‐DMR methylation status established before birth is thus maintained throughout the lifetime in the male germline.