Sexual dimorphism in parental imprint ontogeny and contribution to embryonic development.
Genomic imprinting refers to the functional non-equivalence of parental genomes in mammals that results from the parent-of-origin allelic expression of a subset of genes. Parent-specific expression is dependent on the germ line acquisition of DNA methylation marks at imprinting control regions (ICRs), coordinated by the DNA-methyltransferase homolog DNMT3L. We discuss here how the gender-specific stages of DNMT3L expression may have influenced the various sexually dimorphic aspects of genomic imprinting: (1) the differential developmental timing of methylation establishment at paternally and maternally imprinted genes in each parental germ line, (2) the differential dependence on DNMT3L of parental methylation imprint establishment, (3) the unequal duration of paternal versus maternal methylation imprints during germ cell development, (4) the biased distribution of methylation-dependent ICRs towards the maternal genome, (5) the different genomic organization of paternal versus maternal ICRs, and finally (6) the overwhelming contribution of maternal germ line imprints to development compared to their paternal counterparts.
Bourc'his
Déborah
D
INSERM U741, Paris 7 University, 2 Place Jussieu, 75251 Paris Cedex 05, France. bourchis@ijm.jussieu.fr
Proudhon
Charlotte
C
D000818:Animals; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D019175:DNA Methylation; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D018392:Genomic Imprinting / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005854:Germ Cells; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics
C412484:DNMT3L protein, human; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases