The inheritance of epigenetic defects

Evidence from many sources shows that the control of gene expression in higher organisms is related to the methylation of cytosine in DNA, and that the pattern of methylation is inherited. Loss of methylation, which can result from DNA damage, will lead to heritable abnormalities in gene expression, and these may be important in oncogenesis and aging. Transformed permanent lines often lose gene activity through de novo methylation. It is proposed that epigenetic defects in germline cells due to loss of methylation can be repaired by recombination at meiosis but that some are transmitted to offspring.     

Dependence of heterochromatic histone H3 methylation patterns on the Arabidopsis gene DDM1

The Arabidopsis gene DDM1 is required to maintain DNA methylation levels and is responsible for transposon and transgene silencing. However, rather than encoding a DNA methyltransferase, DDM1 has similarity to the SWI/SNF family of adenosine triphosphate-dependent chromatin remodeling genes, suggesting an indirect role in DNA methylation. Here we show that DDM1 is also required to maintain histone H3 methylation patterns. In wild-type heterochromatin, transposons and silent genes are associated with histone H3 methylated at lysine 9, whereas known genes are preferentially associated with methylated lysine 4. In ddm1 heterochromatin, DNA methylation is lost, and methylation of lysine 9 is largely replaced by methylation of lysine 4. Because DNA methylation has recently been shown to depend on histone H3 lysine 9 methylation, our results suggest that transposon methylation may be guided by histone H3 methylation in plant genomes. This would account for the epigenetic inheritance of hypomethylated DNA once histone H3 methylation patterns are altered.     

DNA甲基化及其生物学功能

DNA甲基化是真核细胞基因组重要修饰方式之一。机体有建立和维持DNA甲基化的机制。DNA甲基化通过与反式因子相互作用或通过改变染色体结构而影响基因的表达,在胚胎发育、X染色体失活、基因组印记等方面起着重要作用。DNA甲基化为哺乳动物的发育、遗传性疾病和肿瘤的发生、生物进化、性状的遗传控制等的研究提供了新的途径。     

植物DNA甲基化研究进展

[目的]概述植物DNA甲基化的研究进展。[方法]综述了植物DNA甲基转移酶s、iRNA指导的DNA甲基化过程,阐明了DNA甲基化与其他表观遗传修饰的关系。[结果]DNA甲基化在表观遗传控制体系中起着重要作用,维持着生物进化过程中基因组和表观遗传的稳定性。RNA介导的DNA甲基化作用中s,iRNA起着不可替代的作用,但RdDM和甲基化在基因调控中的作用需要更进一步研究。[结论]全面了解DNA甲基化及其在植物发育和逆境胁迫应答中的作用,可以在转录水平上增强或抑制外源基因和内源基因沉默,便于制定更合理的改良重要转基因作物的策略。     

DNA甲基化作用模式及生物学效应

表观遗传学为分子遗传学研究的一个新热点。DNA甲基化是表观遗传学的核心领域之一,近年来获得了迅速的发展。概述了真核生物DNA甲基化的模式特点、参与DNA甲基化模式改变与维持的酶类及DNA甲基化分析的方法等,同时对DNA甲基化的生物学效应,如基因表达调控和生物进化调节进行了讨论,并对不同效应的应用前景进行了简要探讨。     

DNA methylation and epigenetic inheritance in plants and filamentous fungi

Plants and filamentous fungi share with mammals enzymes responsible for DNA methylation. In these organisms, DNA methylation is associated with gene silencing and transposon control. However, plants and fungi differ from mammals in the genomic distribution, sequence specificity, and heritability of methylation. We consider the role that transposons play in establishing methylation patterns and the epigenetic consequences of their perturbation.     

Control of genic DNA methylation by a jmjC domain-containing protein in Arabidopsis thaliana

Differential cytosine methylation of repeats and genes is important for coordination of genome stability and proper gene expression. Through genetic screen of mutants showing ectopic cytosine methylation in a genic region, we identified a jmjC-domain gene, IBM1 (increase in bonsai methylation 1), in Arabidopsis thaliana. In addition to the ectopic cytosine methylation, the ibm1 mutations induced a variety of developmental phenotypes, which depend on methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9. Paradoxically, the developmental phenotypes of the ibm1 were enhanced by the mutation in the chromatin-remodeling gene DDM1 (decrease in DNA methylation 1), which is necessary for keeping methylation and silencing of repeated heterochromatin loci. Our results demonstrate the importance of chromatin remodeling and histone modifications in the differential epigenetic control of repeats and genes.     

哈萨克羊MSTN基因的DNA甲基化分析

【目的】研究肌肉和脂肪组织中MSTN基因(生长抑素)的DNA甲基化水平,为改良哈萨克羊品种的选育提供遗传科学依据。【方法】基于亚硫酸氢盐的方法,测序哈萨克绵羊MSTN基因在CpG二核苷酸中的DNA甲基化水平。【结论】6月龄哈萨克羊肌肉MSTN基因DNA甲基化低,脂肪组织DNA甲基化程度最高,股二头肌,股三头肌,半膜肌,半腱肌,背最长肌和脂肪组织的MSTN基因的DNA甲基化概率分别为34.7％,22.6％,23.3％,28％,42.6％和76.7％。【结论】哈萨克羊各组织MSTN基因DNA的甲基化概率没有显著差异。脂肪组织MSTN基因DNA甲基化的最高,肌肉组织MSTN基因的DNA甲基化的概率较低。脂肪的甲基化概率是背最长肌,股二头肌,股三头肌,半腱肌,半膜肌的甲基化概率分别为:1.8倍,2.2倍,3.39倍,2.74倍,3.29倍。其次甲基化从高到低的依次为:脂肪组织>背最长肌>股二头肌>半腱肌>半膜肌>股三头肌。     

BPA不影响卵母细胞减数分裂相关基因Dazl的甲基化

为了探讨环境雌激素BPA对小鼠卵母细胞减数分裂相关基因Dazl甲基化的影响,本研究通过给孕鼠饮用含有BPA的水方式使胎鼠在发育过程中接触BPA,利用重亚硫酸盐测序法,分析了胎鼠生殖嵴卵母细胞不同发育时期Dazl甲基化水平的变化。结果显示:Dazl在减数分裂期间处于低甲基化水平,无论对照组或处理组均低于10%,说明Dazl的低甲基化对维持减数分裂的正常进行有重要作用;对照组与处理组的甲基化水平相当,差异不显著,说明本研究的BPA浓度不影响卵母细胞Dazl的甲基化水平。     

二氧化硫胁迫诱导拟南芥NIT2基因DNA甲基化修饰

DNA甲基化是一种重要的表观遗传修饰形式。利用亚硫酸氢盐修饰后测序法和甲基化敏感性限制性内切酶-PCR(MSRE-PCR)法,研究SO2胁迫对拟南芥腈水解酶(NIT2)基因序列中胞嘧啶甲基化状态的影响,分析甲基化特征改变在植物胁迫应答过程中的作用。研究发现,30 mg.m-3的SO2连续熏气3 d后,拟南芥植株地上组织细胞中NIT2基因启动子区域CG和CHH(H为C,A或T)位点甲基化水平下降,总甲基化水平降低,但未检出编码区5′端目的片段中CCGG位点甲基化状态的改变。RT-PCR分析表明,SO2胁迫组拟南芥植株地上组织细胞中NIT2基因的转录水平高于对照组。研究结果表明,SO2胁迫导致拟南芥NIT2基因启动子区甲基化水平降低,NIT2基因转录上调,说明SO2胁迫能诱发拟南芥基因胞嘧啶甲基化水平改变,启动子区甲基化水平的降低可能与防御基因的诱导表达有关,胞嘧啶甲基化修饰参与了植物的抗逆生理过程。     

LEF1基因在巴什拜羊不同毛色皮肤组织中的DNA甲基化及mRNA表达水平分析

【目的】分析LEF1基因在红棕色与青灰色巴什拜羊皮肤组织中DNA甲基化与mRNA的表达水平。【方法】运用BSP(亚硫酸盐修饰后测序PCR)与RT-RCR(实时荧光定量PCR),检测不同毛色巴什拜羊皮肤组织LEF1基因启动子区的甲基化水平与mRNA表达量。【结果】在红棕色巴什拜羊皮肤组织中的LEF1基因启动子区的甲基化水平高于青灰色的甲基化水平,且二者甲基化CpG位点不同,二者呈显著的负相关(P< 0.05)。【结论】DNA甲基化水平对红棕色与青灰色巴什拜羊的毛色形成具有调节作用,可作为一个候选的巴什拜羊毛色遗传标记。     

Gene body-specific methylation on the active X chromosome

Differential DNA methylation is important for the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Allele-specific methylation of the inactive X chromosome has been demonstrated at promoter CpG islands, but the overall pattern of methylation on the active X(Xa) and inactive X (Xi) chromosomes is unknown. We performed allele-specific analysis of more than 1000 informative loci along the human X chromosome. The Xa displays more than two times as much allele-specific methylation as Xi. This methylation is concentrated at gene bodies, affecting multiple neighboring CpGs. Before X inactivation, all of these Xa gene body-methylated sites are biallelically methylated. Thus, a bipartite methylation-demethylation program results in Xa-specific hypomethylation at gene promoters and hypermethylation at gene bodies. These results suggest a relationship between global methylation and expression potentiality.     

Epigenetic reprogramming in mammalian development

DNA methylation is a major epigenetic modification of the genome that regulates crucial aspects of its function. Genomic methylation patterns in somatic differentiated cells are generally stable and heritable. However, in mammals there are at least two developmental periods-in germ cells and in preimplantation embryos-in which methylation patterns are reprogrammed genome wide, generating cells with a broad developmental potential. Epigenetic reprogramming in germ cells is critical for imprinting; reprogramming in early embryos also affects imprinting. Reprogramming is likely to have a crucial role in establishing nuclear totipotency in normal development and in cloned animals, and in the erasure of acquired epigenetic information. A role of reprogramming in stem cell differentiation is also envisaged. DNA methylation is one of the best-studied epigenetic modifications of DNA in all unicellular and multicellular organisms. In mammals and other vertebrates, methylation occurs predominantly at the symmetrical dinucleotide CpG (1-4). Symmetrical methylation and the discovery of a DNA methyltransferase that prefers a hemimethylated substrate, Dnmt1 (4), suggested a mechanism by which specific patterns of methylation in the genome could be maintained. Patterns imposed on the genome at defined developmental time points in precursor cells could be maintained by Dnmt1, and would lead to predetermined programs of gene expression during development in descendants of the precursor cells (5, 6). This provided a means to explain how patterns of differentiation could be maintained by populations of cells. In addition, specific demethylation events in differentiated tissues could then lead to further changes in gene expression as needed. Neat and convincing as this model is, it is still largely unsubstantiated. While effects of methylation on expression of specific genes, particularly imprinted ones (7) and some retrotransposons (8), have been demonstrated in vivo, it is still unclear whether or not methylation is involved in the control of gene expression during normal development (9-13). Although enzymes have been identified that can methylate DNA de novo (Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b) (14), it is unknown how specific patterns of methylation are established in the genome. Mechanisms for active demethylation have been suggested, but no enzymes have been identified that carry out this function in vivo (15-17). Genomewide alterations in methylation-brought about, for example, by knockouts of the methylase genes-result in embryo lethality or developmental defects, but the basis for abnormal development still remains to be discovered (7, 14). What is clear, however, is that in mammals there are developmental periods of genomewide reprogramming of methylation patterns in vivo. Typically, a substantial part of the genome is demethylated, and after some time remethylated, in a cell- or tissue-specific pattern. The developmental dynamics of these reprogramming events, as well as some of the enzymatic mechanisms involved and the biological purposes, are beginning to be understood. Here we look at what is known about reprogramming in mammals and discuss how it might relate to developmental potency and imprinting.     

印记基因XIST和H19 DNA甲基化水平与猪克隆胚胎发育效率关联分析

目的 体细胞核移植(Somatic cell nuclear transfer,SCNT)在农业、生物医学等领域应用广泛,但是克隆效率太低制约了该技术的应用和推广。本研究的目的在于探究印记基因XIST和H19 DNA甲基化水平与克隆效率的联系。方法 利用同一头猪源耳朵成纤维细胞培养获得14个细胞克隆团,分别作为供体细胞进行SCNT试验,统计比较以各克隆团为供体细胞生产克隆胚胎的囊胚率以及各囊胚的XIST和H19基因调控区的DNA甲基化水平,对XIST和H19基因差异甲基化区域DNA甲基化水平与克隆胚胎的囊胚率进行相关性分析。结果 以1号克隆团为供体细胞得到囊胚的XIST基因DNA甲基化水平最高且囊胚率最低,分别为65.04%、8.6%,以14号克隆团为供体细胞得到XIST基因囊胚的DNA甲基化水平最低但囊胚率最高,分别为16.68%、38.2%;相关性分析表明XIST基因的DNA甲基化水平与囊胚率之间存在高度负相关(|r|=0.8125>0.8)。H19基因A侧甲基化平均水平最高和最低分别为5.12%和0.61%,相关性分析表明H19基因A侧DNA甲基化水平与囊胚率间只有极弱的相关(|r|=0.1647<0.3);H19基因G侧DNA甲基化水平最高和最低分别为90.92%和72.69%,相关性分析表明H19基因G侧DNA甲基化水平与囊胚率间只有低度相关(0.3<|r|=0.3098<0.5)。结论 XIST基因DNA甲基化水平越低,则克隆团囊胚率越高。研究结果对提高猪SCNT胚胎发育效率,改善现有的猪SCNT技术体系提供了基础。     

崂山奶山羊乳腺中孕激素受体基因甲基化与基因表达关系的研究

为了探讨崂山奶山羊乳腺组织中孕激素受体基因(PR)的甲基化与基因表达的关系,本研究通过亚硫酸盐测序法分析了不同时期崂山奶山羊乳腺组织中PR基因的甲基化水平,并利用Real-time PCR技术检测了相应时期PR基因的表达情况。结果显示:在青春期、妊娠早期、妊娠中期、妊娠晚期、泌乳早期、泌乳晚期及退化期崂山奶山羊乳腺中PR基因的甲基化比率分别为13.3%、9.3%、2%、0%、8.7%、10.7%、10.7%;以β-actin为内参基因,相应时期PR基因的表达量分别为1.68、5.96、17.51、54.76、2.28、0.99、1.30。这些结果表明:PR基因的甲基化与基因表达存在负相关关系(γ=-0.87,P=0.01<0.05)。可见,崂山奶山羊乳腺组织中PR基因的甲基化水平对基因表达有一定影响。     

重金属铅镉对濒危植物中华水韭(Isoetes sinensis)DNA甲基化的影响

为研究古老植物对重金属胁迫的分子水平的响应,探究重金属对濒危植物DNA甲基化影响的特点,选择两种重金属Pb和Cd对濒危植物中华水韭进行胁迫处理,每种重金属设置3个处理浓度,胁迫处理至第28 d选取叶片,采用MSAP(甲基化敏感扩增多态性)技术测定DNA甲基化程度。试验结果表明:重金属铅和镉均能够对中华水韭DNA甲基化产生影响,甲基化总体水平基本一致(对照、Pb处理和Cd处理分别为46.96%、48.23%和48.1%),但全甲基化水平(Pb处理是28.34%,Cd处理是20.25%)均低于对照(33.91%),而半甲基化水平(Pb处理是19.89%,Cd处理是27.85%)均高于对照(13.04%)。甲基化增强的变化,以无甲基化或内外侧胞嘧啶半甲基化向内外侧胞嘧啶全甲基化变化的模式为主。去甲基化的变化,以内外侧胞嘧啶全甲基化向无甲基化或内侧胞嘧啶半甲基化或全甲基化变化的模式为主。铅和镉胁迫在导致中华水韭DNA甲基化增强所占比率方面几乎相等(39.04%和39.71%),而在去甲基化所占比率方面镉(46.86%)高于铅(33.92%)。