Genome-wide and locus-specific DNA hypomethylation in G9a deficient mouse embryonic stem cells

Genes Cells. 2007 Jan;12(1):1-11. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2443.2006.01029.x.

Abstract

In the mammalian genome, numerous CpG-rich loci define tissue-dependent and differentially methylated regions (T-DMRs). Euchromatin from different cell types differs in terms of its tissue-specific DNA methylation profile as defined by these T-DMRs. G9a is a euchromatin-localized histone methyltransferase (HMT) and catalyzes methylation of histone H3 at lysines 9 and 27 (H3-K9 and -K27). To test whether HMT activity influences euchromatic cytosine methylation, we analyzed the DNA methylation status of approximately 2000 CpG-rich loci, which are predicted in silico, in G9a(-/-) embryonic stem cells by restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS). While the RLGS profile of wild-type cells contained about 1300 spots, 32 new spots indicating DNA demethylation were seen in the profile of G9a(-/-) cells. Virtual-image RLGS (Vi-RLGS) allowed us to identify the genomic source of ten of these spots. These were confirmed to be cytosine demethylated, not just at the Not I site detected by the RLGS but extending over several kilobase pairs in cis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) confirmed these loci to be targets of G9a, with decreased H3-K9 and/or -K27 dimethylation in the G9a(-/-) cells. These data indicate that G9a site-selectively contributes to DNA methylation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • CpG Islands
  • Cysteine / metabolism
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / enzymology*
  • Euchromatin / enzymology
  • Euchromatin / metabolism
  • Gene Deletion
  • Genome*
  • Histone Methyltransferases
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / genetics
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / metabolism*
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Models, Genetic
  • Nucleosomes / metabolism
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Protein Methyltransferases

Substances

  • Euchromatin
  • Histones
  • Nucleosomes
  • DNA
  • Histone Methyltransferases
  • Protein Methyltransferases
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Cysteine