Abstract
The repression of the maternally inherited Igf2 allele has been proposed to depend on a methylation-sensitive chromatin insulator organized by the 11 zinc finger protein CTCF at the H19 imprinting control region (ICR). Here we document that point mutations of the nucleotides in physical contact with CTCF within the endogenous H19 ICR lead to loss of CTCF binding and Igf2 imprinting only when passaged through the female germline. This effect is accompanied by a significant loss of methylation protection of the maternally derived H19 ICR. Because CTCF interacts with other imprinting control regions, it emerges as a central factor responsible for interpreting and propagating gamete-derived epigenetic marks and for organizing epigenetically controlled expression domains.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 586-590 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Genes and Development |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1 2003 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- CTCF
- Chromatin insulator
- DNA methylation
- Genomic imprinting
- Igf2
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics
- Developmental Biology