Ontogeny, conservation and functional significance of maternally inherited DNA methylation at two classes of non-imprinted genes.

ABSTRACT: A functional role for DNA methylation has been well-established at imprinted loci, which inherit methylation uniparentally, most commonly from the mother via the oocyte. Many CpG islands not associated with imprinting also inherit methylation from the oocyte, although the functional significance of this, and the common features of the genes affected, are unclear. We identify two major subclasses of genes associated with these gametic differentially methylated regions (gDMRs), namely those important for brain and for testis function. The gDMRs at these genes retain the methylation acquired in the oocyte through preimplantation development, but become fully methylated postimplantation by de novo methylation of the paternal allele. Each gene class displays unique features, with the gDMR locat

SUBMITTER: Rutledge CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3943183 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature