title: Is DNA methylation an epigenetic contribution to transcriptional regulation of the bovine endometrium during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy?
abstract: Epigenetic events controlling the transcriptional regulation of genes involved in endometrial function during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy have only sparsely been investigated. We analyzed the gene expression of DNA methyltransferases and the most prominent endocrine transcriptional mediator estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) in the bovine endometrium of heifers at 0, 12 and 18 days following estrous and at day 18 after insemination. The luminometric methylation assay for the investigation of global DNA methylation and an elegant combination of methylation-sensitive high resolution melting and pyrosequencing for local methylation levels of ESR1 were deployed. In spite of differential gene expression of ESR1 among groups, no differences in endometrial ESR1 DNA methylation during neither estrous cycle nor early pregnancy were determined. Global DNA methylation prevailed at similar low levels in endometrium, likely controlled by the observed moderate DNMT3b expression. Thus, the epigenetic contribution of DNA methylation influencing endometrial function seems rather limited. However, because a control tissue expressing only minute amounts of ESR1 transcripts was locally significantly higher methylated, DNA methylation might contribute to an appropriate tissue-specific expression status underlying further specific control mechanisms of gene transcription.
authors.affiliation: Physiology Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, 85354 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Fürst
authors.forename: Heinrich H D
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schweizer
authors.forename: Susanne E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ulbrich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030762:Estrous Cycle; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D044366:Transition Temperature
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases