High-resolution analysis of parent-of-origin allelic expression in the mouse brain.
Genomic imprinting results in preferential expression of the paternal or maternal allele of certain genes. We have performed a genome-wide characterization of imprinting in the mouse embryonic and adult brain. This approach uncovered parent-of-origin allelic effects of more than 1300 loci. We identified parental bias in the expression of individual genes and of specific transcript isoforms, with differences between brain regions. Many imprinted genes are expressed in neural systems associated with feeding and motivated behaviors, and parental biases preferentially target genetic pathways governing metabolism and cell adhesion. We observed a preferential maternal contribution to gene expression in the developing brain and a major paternal contribution in the adult brain. Thus, parental expression bias emerges as a major mode of epigenetic regulation in the brain.
Gregg
Christopher
C
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. cgregg@mcb.harvard.edu
Zhang
Jiangwen
J
Weissbourd
Brandon
B
Luo
Shujun
S
Schroth
Gary P
GP
Haig
David
D
Dulac
Catherine
C
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D020868:Gene Silencing; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009035:Mothers; D005810:Multigene Family; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012727:Sex Characteristics