Maternal vitamin C regulates reprogramming of DNA methylation and germline development.

ABSTRACT: Development is often assumed to be hardwired in the genome, but several lines of evidence indicate that it is susceptible to environmental modulation with potential long-term consequences, including in mammals^1,2. The embryonic germline is of particular interest because of the potential for intergenerational epigenetic effects. The mammalian germline undergoes extensive DNA demethylation^3-7 that occurs in large part by passive dilution of methylation over successive cell divisions, accompanied by active DNA demethylation by TET enzymes^3,8-10. TET activity has been shown to be modulated by nutrients and metabolites, such as vitamin C^11-15. Here we show that maternal vitamin C is required for proper DNA demethylation and the development of female f

SUBMITTER: DiTroia SP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8423347 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature