MacroH2A1 knockdown effects on the Peg3 imprinted domain.
BACKGROUND
MacroH2A1 is a histone variant that is closely associated with the repressed regions of chromosomes. A recent study revealed that this histone variant is highly enriched in the inactive alleles of Imprinting Control Regions (ICRs).


RESULTS
The current study investigates the potential roles of macroH2A1 in genomic imprinting by lowering the cellular levels of the macroH2A1 protein. RNAi-based macroH2A1 knockdown experiments in Neuro2A cells changed the expression levels of a subset of genes, including Peg3 and Usp29 of the Peg3 domain. The expression of these genes was down-regulated, rather than up-regulated, in response to reduced protein levels of the potential repressor macroH2A1. This down-regulation was not accompanied with changes in the DNA methylation status of the Peg3 domain.


CONCLUSIONS
MacroH2A1 may not function as a transcriptional repressor for this domain, but that macroH2A1 may participate in the heterochromatin formation with functions yet to be discovered.
Choo
Jung Ha
JH
Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA. jhchoo@lsu.edu
Kim
Jeong Do
JD
Kim
Joomyeong
J
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D047369:Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006657:Histones / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D034622:RNA Interference; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D006657:Histones; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; C097901:Peg3 protein, mouse; C120756:macroH2A histone