Hartman Institute for Therapeutic Organ Regeneration

Two waves of de novo methylation during mouse germ cell development.

TitleTwo waves of de novo methylation during mouse germ cell development.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsMolaro A, Falciatori I, Hodges E, Aravin AA, Marran K, Rafii S, W McCombie R, Smith AD, Hannon GJ
JournalGenes Dev
Volume28
Issue14
Pagination1544-9
Date Published2014 Jul 15
ISSN1549-5477
KeywordsAnimals, Cellular Reprogramming, DNA Methylation, Epigenesis, Genetic, Male, Mice, Retroelements, RNA, Small Interfering, Spermatocytes, Spermatogenesis, Transcription, Genetic
Abstract

<p>During development, mammalian germ cells reprogram their epigenomes via a genome-wide erasure and de novo rewriting of DNA methylation marks. We know little of how methylation patterns are specifically determined. The piRNA pathway is thought to target the bulk of retrotransposon methylation. Here we show that most retrotransposon sequences are modified by default de novo methylation. However, potentially active retrotransposon copies evade this initial wave, likely mimicking features of protein-coding genes. These elements remain transcriptionally active and become targets of piRNA-mediated methylation. Thus, we posit that these two waves play essential roles in resetting germ cell epigenomes at each generation.</p>

DOI10.1101/gad.244350.114
Alternate JournalGenes Dev
PubMed ID25030694
PubMed Central IDPMC4102761
Grant ListR01 HG006015 / HG / NHGRI NIH HHS / United States
RC2 HD064459 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
/ HHMI / Howard Hughes Medical Institute / United States
21143 / CRUK_ / Cancer Research UK / United Kingdom
HG006015 / HG / NHGRI NIH HHS / United States
P30 CA045508 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R37 GM062534 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R37GM062534 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
5RC2HD064459-01 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States

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Hartman Institute for Therapeutic Organ Regeneration
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