Local CpG density affects the trajectory and variance of age-associated DNA methylation changes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

DNA methylation is an epigenetic mark associated with the repression of gene promoters. Its pattern in the genome is disrupted with age and these changes can be used to statistically predict age with epigenetic clocks. Altered rates of aging inferred from these clocks are observed in human disease. However, the molecular mechanisms underpinning age-associated DNA methylation changes remain unknown. Local DNA sequence can program steady-state DNA methylation levels, but how it influences age-associated methylation changes is unknown.

Results

We analyze longitudinal human DNA methylation trajectories at 345,895 CpGs from 600 individuals aged between 67 and 80 to understand the factors responsible for age-associated epigenetic changes at individual CpGs. We show that

SUBMITTER: Higham J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9575273 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature