Vitamin C induces Tet-dependent DNA demethylation in ES cells to promote a blastocyst-like methylome [Affymetrix]

ABSTRACT: DNA methylation is a heritable epigenetic modification involved in gene silencing, imprinting, and the suppression of retrotransposons. Global DNA demethylation occurs in the early embryo and the germline and may be mediated by Tet (ten-eleven-translocation) enzymes, which convert 5-methylcytosine (mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (hmC). Tet enzymes have been extensively studied in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, which are generally cultured in the absence of Vitamin C, a potential co-factor for Fe(II) 2-oxoglutarate dioxygenase enzymes like Tets. Here we report that addition of Vitamin C to ES cells promotes Tet activity leading to a rapid and global increase in hmC. This is followed by DNA demethylation of numerous gene promoters and up-regulation of demethylated germline genes. Tet1 bind

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

SUBMITTER: Martin Hirst 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-46319 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress