Genomic imprinting in mammals is controlled by DNA methylation imprints that are acquired in the gametes, at essential sequence elements called ‘imprinting control regions’ (ICRs). What signals paternal imprint acquisition in male germ cells remains unknown. To address this question, we explored histone methylation at ICRs in mouse primordial germ cells (PGCs). By 13.5 days post coitum (d.p.c.), H3 lysine-9 and H4 lysine-20 trimethylation are depleted from ICRs in male (and female) PGCs, indicating that these modifications do not signal subsequent imprint acquisition, which initiates at approximately 15.5 d.p.c. Furthermore, during male PGC development, H3 lysine-4 trimethylation becomes biallelically enriched at ‘maternal’ ICRs, which are protected against DNA methylation, and whose promoters are active in the male germ cells. Remarkably, high transcriptional read-through is detected at the paternal ICRs H19-DMR and Ig-DMR at the time of imprint establishment, from one of the strands predominantly. Combined, our data evoke a model in which differential histone modification states linked to transcriptional events may signal the specificity of imprint acquisition during spermatogenesis.
Transcription and histone methylation changes correlate with imprint acquisition in male germ cells
Henckel, A.; Chebli, K.; Kota, S. K.; Arnaud*, P.; Feil*, R.
2012
EMBO J
2012-02-01 / vol 31 / pages 606-15
Abstract
10.1038/emboj.2011.425
1460-2075 (Electronic) 0261-4189 (Linking)
IGMM team(s) involved in this publication
Robert Feil
Genomic Imprinting and Development
Tags
Female; Animals; *Transcription, Genetic; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; Male; Drosophila melanogaster; *Genomic Imprinting; *DNA Methylation; Cell Separation; Flow Cytometry; Histones/*metabolism