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Replication‐coupled passive DNA demethylation for the erasure of genome imprints in mice
Author(s) -
Kagiwada Saya,
Kurimoto Kazuki,
Hirota Takayuki,
Yamaji Masashi,
Saitou Mitinori
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/emboj.2012.331
Subject(s) - biology , erasure , replication (statistics) , genetics , dna replication , genome , dna demethylation , origin of replication , dna , origin recognition complex , eukaryotic dna replication , dna methylation , gene , virology , gene expression , computer science , programming language
Genome‐wide DNA demethylation, including the erasure of genome imprints, in primordial germ cells (PGCs) is a critical first step to creating a totipotent epigenome in the germ line. We show here that, contrary to the prevailing model emphasizing active DNA demethylation, imprint erasure in mouse PGCs occurs in a manner largely consistent with replication‐coupled passive DNA demethylation: PGCs erase imprints during their rapid cycling with little de novo or maintenance DNA methylation potential and no apparent major chromatin alterations. Our findings necessitate the re‐evaluation of and provide novel insights into the mechanism of genome‐wide DNA demethylation in PGCs.