title: Association of DNA methylation and monoamine oxidase A gene expression in the brains of different dog breeds.
abstract: The monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene is an important candidate gene for human behavior that encodes an enzyme regulating the metabolism of key neurotransmitters. The regulatory mechanisms of the MAOA gene in dogs are yet to be elucidated. We measured MAOA gene transcription and analyzed the VNTR genotype and methylation status of the gene promoter region in different dog breeds to determine whether MAOA expression is correlated with the MAOA genotype or epigenetic modification in dogs. We found brain-specific expression of the MAOA gene and different transcription levels in different dog breeds including Beagle, Sapsaree, and German shepherd, and also a robust association of the DNA methylation of the gene promoter with mRNA levels. However, the 90 bp tandem repeats that we observed near the transcription start site were not variable, indicating no correlation with canine MAOA activity. These results show that differential DNA methylation in the MAOA promoter region may affect gene expression by modulating promoter activity. Moreover, the distinctive patterns of MAOA expression and DNA methylation may be involved in breed-specific or individual behavioral characteristics, such as aggression, because behavioral phenotypes are related to different physiological and neuroendocrine responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: JungWoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Eun
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gyu-Hwi
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yun-Jeong
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Animal Genomics & Bioinformatics Division, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Suwon 441-350, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bong-Hwan
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Chungbuk 363-883, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Physiology, Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 305-764, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Minkyu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Malaria and Parasitic Diseases Division, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Chungbuk 363-951, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Military Working Dog Training Center, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bohyun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: khs307@pusan.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Heui-Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D001947:Breeding; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004285:Dogs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D056726:Genetic Association Studies / Q000662:veterinary; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
chemical_list: D008995:Monoamine Oxidase
keywords: Brain; Dog; MAOA; Methylation; Variable tandem repeat (VNTR)