Abstract
Genome-wide DNA demethylation, including the erasure of genome imprints, in primordial germ cells (PGCs) is a critical first step to creating a totipotent epigenome in the germ line. We show here that, contrary to the prevailing model emphasizing active DNA demethylation, imprint erasure in mouse PGCs occurs in a manner largely consistent with replication-coupled passive DNA demethylation: PGCs erase imprints during their rapid cycling with little de novo or maintenance DNA methylation potential and no apparent major chromatin alterations. Our findings necessitate the re-evaluation of and provide novel insights into the mechanism of genome-wide DNA demethylation in PGCs.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Base Sequence
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Blotting, Western
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CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins
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Cell Cycle / physiology
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Cell Proliferation
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Chromatin / physiology
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DNA Methylation / genetics
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DNA Methylation / physiology*
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DNA Primers / genetics
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DNA Replication / physiology
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Flow Cytometry
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Fluorescent Antibody Technique
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Genome / genetics*
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Genomic Imprinting / genetics*
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Germ Cells / physiology*
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Green Fluorescent Proteins
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Kinetics
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Mice
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Microarray Analysis
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Models, Biological*
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
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Repressor Proteins / metabolism
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Sequence Analysis, DNA
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Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
Substances
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CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins
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Chromatin
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DNA Primers
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Dmap1 protein, mouse
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Nuclear Proteins
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Repressor Proteins
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enhanced green fluorescent protein
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Green Fluorescent Proteins
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Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
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Uhrf1 protein, mouse