Domain-specific response of imprinted genes to reduced DNMT1.

TitleDomain-specific response of imprinted genes to reduced DNMT1.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsWeaver, JR, Sarkisian, G, Krapp, C, Mager, J, Mann, MRW, Bartolomei, MS
JournalMolecular and cellular biology
Volume30
Issue16
Pagination3916-28
Date Published2010 Aug
KeywordsAlleles, Animals, Base Sequence, Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors, Crosses, Genetic, DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase, DNA Methylation, DNA Primers, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Genomic Imprinting, Insulin-Like Growth Factor II, KCNQ1 Potassium Channel, Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Mutant Strains, Multigene Family, Mutant Proteins, Placenta, Pregnancy, Protein Structure, Tertiary
AbstractImprinted genes are expressed in a monoallelic, parent-of-origin-specific manner. Clusters of imprinted genes are regulated by imprinting control regions (ICRs) characterized by DNA methylation of one allele. This methylation is critical for imprinting; a reduction in the DNA methyltransferase DNMT1 causes a widespread loss of imprinting. To better understand the role of DNA methylation in the regulation of imprinting, we characterized the effects of Dnmt1 mutations on the expression of a panel of imprinted genes in the embryo and placenta. We found striking differences among imprinted domains. The Igf2 and Peg3 domains showed imprinting perturbations with both null and partial loss-of-function mutations, and both domains had pairs of coordinately regulated genes with opposite responses to loss of DNMT1 function, suggesting these domains employ similar regulatory mechanisms. Genes in the Kcnq1 domain were less sensitive to the absence of DNMT1. Cdkn1c exhibited imprinting perturbations only in null mutants, while Kcnq1 and Ascl2 were largely unaffected by a loss of DNMT1 function. These results emphasize the critical role for DNA methylation in imprinting and reveal the different ways it controls gene expression.
Alternate JournalMol. Cell. Biol.