DNA methylation dynamics during intestinal stem cell differentiation reveals enhancers driving gene expression in the villus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

DNA methylation is of pivotal importance during development. Previous genome-wide studies identified numerous differentially methylated regions upon differentiation of stem cells, many of them associated with transcriptional start sites.

Results

We present the first genome-wide, single-base-resolution view into DNA methylation dynamics during differentiation of a mammalian epithelial stem cell: the mouse small intestinal Lgr5+ stem cell. Very little change was observed at transcriptional start sites and our data suggest that differentiation-related genes are already primed for expression in the stem cell. Genome-wide, only 50 differentially methylated regions were identified. Almost all of these loci represent enhancers driving gene expression in the differentiate

SUBMITTER: Kaaij LT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4053812 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature