title: Genomic imprinting controls matrix attachment regions in the Igf2 gene.
abstract: Genomic imprinting at the Igf2/H19 locus originates from allele-specific DNA methylation, which modifies the affinity of some proteins for their target sequences. Here, we show that AT-rich DNA sequences located in the vicinity of previously characterized differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of the imprinted Igf2 gene are conserved between mouse and human. These sequences have all the characteristics of matrix attachment regions (MARs), which are known as versatile regulatory elements involved in chromatin structure and gene expression. Combining allele-specific nuclear matrix binding assays and real-time PCR quantification, we show that retention of two of these Igf2 MARs (MAR0 and MAR2) in the nuclear matrix fraction depends on the tissue and is specific to the paternal allele. Furthermore, on this allele, the Igf2 MAR2 is functionally linked to the neighboring DMR2 while, on the maternal allele, it is controlled by the imprinting-control region. Our work clearly demonstrates that genomic imprinting controls matrix attachment regions in the Igf2 gene.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Génétique Moléculaire, UMR 5535 CNRS, Université Montpellier II, IFR 122, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Michaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hagège
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murrell
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brunel
authors.forename: Wolf
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reik
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cathala
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Forné
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001482:Base Composition; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006801:Humans; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D015530:Nuclear Matrix / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: C094335:H19 long non-coding RNA; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D004247:DNA