Ontogeny of CpG island methylation and specificity of DNMT3 methyltransferases during embryonic development in the mouse.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the mouse, the patterns of DNA methylation are established during early embryonic development in the epiblast. We quantified the targets and kinetics of DNA methylation acquisition in epiblast cells, and determined the contribution of the de novo methyltransferases DNMT3A and DNMT3B to this process.

Results

We generated single-base maps of DNA methylation from the blastocyst to post-implantation stages and in embryos lacking DNMT3A or DNMT3B activity. DNA methylation is established within two days of implantation between embryonic days 4.5 and 6.5. The kinetics of de novo methylation are uniform throughout the genome, suggesting a random mechanism of deposition. In contrast, many CpG islands acquire methylation slowly in late epiblast cells. Five percent of CpG

SUBMITTER: Auclair G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4295324 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature