Sex-specific parent-of-origin allelic expression in the mouse brain.
Genomic imprinting results in preferential gene expression from paternally versus maternally inherited chromosomes. We used a genome-wide approach to uncover sex-specific parent-of-origin allelic effects in the adult mouse brain. Our study identified preferential selection of the maternally inherited X chromosome in glutamatergic neurons of the female cortex. Moreover, analysis of the cortex and hypothalamus identified 347 autosomal genes with sex-specific imprinting features. In the hypothalamus, sex-specific imprinted genes were mostly found in females, which suggests parental influence over the hypothalamic function of daughters. We show that interleukin-18, a gene linked to diseases with sex-specific prevalence, is subject to complex, regional, and sex-specific parental effects in the brain. Parent-of-origin effects thus provide new avenues for investigation of sexual dimorphism in brain function and disease.
Gregg
Christopher
C
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Zhang
Jiangwen
J
Butler
James E
JE
Haig
David
D
Dulac
Catherine
C
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D049308:Dioxygenases; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D050172:Genes, X-Linked; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000235:genetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D049951:X Chromosome Inactivation
D020382:Interleukin-18; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D010105:Oxygenases; D049308:Dioxygenases; C481678:Bco2 protein, mouse; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase