title: DNA methylation and histone modification patterns during the late embryonic and early postnatal development of chickens.
abstract: Early mammalian embryonic cells have been proven to be essential for embryonic development and the health of neonates. A series of epigenetic reprogramming events, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, occur during early embryonic development. However, epigenetic marks in late embryos and neonates are not well understood, especially in avian species. To investigate the epigenetic patterns of developing embryos and posthatched chicks, embryos at embryonic day 5 (E5), E8, E11, E14, E17, and E20 and newly hatched chicks on day of life 1 (D1), D7, D14, D21 were collected. The levels of global DNA methylation and histone H3 at lysine 9 residue (H3K9) modifications were measured in samples of liver, jejunum, and breast skeletal muscles by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. According to our data, decreased levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression were found in the liver and a V-shaped pattern of proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression was found in the jejunum. The level of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in muscle was relatively stable. Caspase 3 expression gradually decreased over time in liver, was stable in the jejunum, and increased in muscle. Levels of DNA methylation and H3K9 acetylation decreased in liver over time, while the pattern was N-shaped in jejunal tissue and W-shaped in pectoral muscles, and these changes were accompanied by dynamic changes of DNA methyltransferases, histone acetyltransferases 1, and histone deacetylase 2. Moreover, dimethylation, trimethylation, and acetylation of H3K9 were expressed in a time- and tissue-dependent manner. After birth, epigenetic marks were relatively stable and found at lower levels. These results indicate that spatiotemporal specific epigenetic alterations could be critical for the late development of chick embryos and neonates.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Changwu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Shuangshuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China guoyum@cau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yuming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015870:Gene Expression; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007583:Jejunum / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008239:Lysine / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008745:Methylation; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D030161:Avian Proteins; D006657:Histones; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D053148:Caspase 3; D008239:Lysine
keywords: DNA methylation; chicken embryo; histone acetylation; jejunal development