title: High-resolution DNA methylome analysis of primordial germ cells identifies gender-specific reprogramming in mice.
abstract: Dynamic epigenetic reprogramming occurs during mammalian germ cell development, although the targets of this process, including DNA demethylation and de novo methylation, remain poorly understood. We performed genome-wide DNA methylation analysis in male and female mouse primordial germ cells at embryonic days 10.5, 13.5, and 16.5 by whole-genome shotgun bisulfite sequencing. Our high-resolution DNA methylome maps demonstrated gender-specific differences in CpG methylation at genome-wide and gene-specific levels during fetal germline progression. There was extensive intra- and intergenic hypomethylation with erasure of methylation marks at imprinted, X-linked, or germline-specific genes during gonadal sex determination and partial methylation at particular retrotransposons. Following global demethylation and sex determination, CpG sites switched to de novo methylation in males, but the X-linked genes appeared resistant to the wave of de novo methylation. Significant differential methylation at a subset of imprinted loci was identified in both genders, and non-CpG methylation occurred only in male gonocytes. Our data establish the basis for future studies on the role of epigenetic modifications in germline development and other biological processes.
authors: Department of BioScience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan.
authors: Hisato
authors: H
authors: Kobayashi
authors: Takayuki
authors: T
authors: Sakurai
authors: Fumihito
authors: F
authors: Miura
authors: Misaki
authors: M
authors: Imai
authors: Kentaro
authors: K
authors: Mochiduki
authors: Eikichi
authors: E
authors: Yanagisawa
authors: Akihiko
authors: A
authors: Sakashita
authors: Takuya
authors: T
authors: Wakai
authors: Yutaka
authors: Y
authors: Suzuki
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Ito
authors: Yasuhisa
authors: Y
authors: Matsui
authors: Tomohiro
authors: T
authors: Kono
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D057890:Epigenomics / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012737:Sex Factors