Extra-embryonic-specific imprinted expression is restricted to defined lineages in the post-implantation embryo.

ABSTRACT: A subset of imprinted genes in the mouse have been reported to show imprinted expression that is restricted to the placenta, a short-lived extra-embryonic organ. Notably, these so-called "placental-specific" imprinted genes are expressed from both parental alleles in embryo and adult tissues. The placenta is an embryonic-derived organ that is closely associated with maternal tissue, and as a consequence, maternal contamination can be mistaken for maternal-specific imprinted expression. The complexity of the placenta, which arises from multiple embryonic lineages, poses additional problems in accurately assessing allele-specific repressive epigenetic modifications in genes that also show lineage-specific silencing in this organ. These problems require that extra evidence be obtained to supp

SUBMITTER: Hudson QJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3081948 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature