Comparative whole genome DNA methylation profiling of cattle sperm and somatic tissues reveals striking hypomethylated patterns in sperm.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although sperm DNA methylation has been studied in humans and other species, its status in cattle is largely unknown.

Results

Using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS), we profiled the DNA methylome of cattle sperm through comparison with three somatic tissues (mammary gland, brain, and blood). Large differences between cattle sperm and somatic cells were observed in the methylation patterns of global CpGs, pericentromeric satellites, partially methylated domains (PMDs), hypomethylated regions (HMRs), and common repeats. As expected, we observed low methylation in the promoter regions and high methylation in the bodies of active genes. We detected selective hypomethylation of megabase domains of centromeric satellite clusters, which may be related to chromoso

SUBMITTER: Zhou Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5928411 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature