DNMT1 can induce primary germ layer differentiation through de novo DNA methylation.

ABSTRACT: DNA methyltransferases and Ten-Eleven Translocation (TET) proteins regulate the DNA methylation and demethylation cycles during mouse embryonic development. Although DNMT1 mainly plays a role in the maintenance of DNA methylation after DNA replication, it is also reported to possess de novo methyltransferase capacity. However, its physiological significance remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that full-length DNMT1 (FL) and a mutant lacking the N-terminus necessary for its maintenance activity (602) confer the differentiation potential of mouse Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, and Dnmt3b (Dnmts-TKO) embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Both FL and 602 inhibit the spontaneous differentiation of Dnmts-TKO ESCs in the undifferentiated state. Dnmts-TKO ESCs showed loss of DNA methylation and de-repression of primitiv

SUBMITTER: Ito T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11447926 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature