Methylation and Imprinting of IGF2 in Opossums
Author Information
Author(s): Lawton Betty R, Carone Benjamin R, Obergfell Craig J, Ferreri Gianni C, Gondolphi Christina M, VandeBerg John L, Imumorin Ikhide, O'Neill Rachel J, O'Neill Michael J
Primary Institution: University of Connecticut
Hypothesis
Is methylation necessary for the imprinting of IGF2 in marsupials?
Conclusion
Parent-specific DNA methylation is an epigenetic mark common to both marsupials and eutherians, but the mechanisms of transcriptional silencing have evolved independently.
Supporting Evidence
- The study identified a previously unknown 5'-untranslated exon for opossum IGF2.
- Demethylation of the DMR in opossum neonatal fibroblasts resulted in biallelic expression of IGF2.
- The presence of DNMT3L in marsupial genomes suggests a role for methylation in imprinting.
Takeaway
This study shows that a gene called IGF2, important for growth, is controlled by a special chemical tag called methylation in opossums, just like in other mammals.
Methodology
The study involved treating neonatal fibroblasts with 5-azacytidine to assess the effects of CpG hypomethylation on IGF2 expression.
Participant Demographics
Neonatal fibroblasts from South American opossum (Monodelphis domestica).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.001
Confidence Interval
99.9%
Statistical Significance
p < 0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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