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- Title
Genomic imprinting determines methylation of parental alleles in transgenic mice.
- Authors
Reik, Wolf; Collick, Andrew; Norris, Michael L.; Barton, Sheila C.; Surani, M. Azim
- Abstract
Mouse embryogenesis relies on the presence of both the maternal and the paternal genome for development to term1,2. It has been proposed that specific modifications are imprinted onto the chromosomes during gametogenesis3; these modifications are stably propagated4, and their expression results in distinct and complementary contributions of the two parental genomes to the development of the embryo and the extraembryonic membranes5,6. Genetic data further suggest that a substantial proportion of the genome could be subject to chromosomal imprinting7, the molecular nature of which is unknown. We used random DNA insertions in transgenic mice to probe the genome for modified regions. The DNA methylation patterns of transgenic alleles were compared after transmission from mother or father in seven mouse strains carrying autosomal insertions of the same transgenic marker. One of these loci showed a clear difference in DNA methylation specific for its parental origin, with the paternally inherited copy being relatively undermethylated. This difference was observed in embryos on day 10 of gestation, but not in their extraembryonic membranes. Moreover, the methylation pattern was faithfully reversed upon each germline transmission to the opposite sex. Our findings provide evidence for heritable molecular differences between maternally and paternally derived alleles on mouse chromosomes.
- Publication
Nature, 1987, Vol 328, Issue 6127, p248
- ISSN
0028-0836
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/328248a0