Genomic Imprinting Flashcards
How are Imprinted genes expressed - generally
Monoallelically in a parent of origin specific manner
Describe imprinted genes
Typically = 2 copies of each gene, one copy of each gene on each homologs, amount of mRNA and expression depends on both copies
IMPrinting = only one or other expressed= parent of origin dictates what allele expressed, only pat or mat
What is imprinting an ex of
Classic epigenetic effect = stably maintained - for a while (not always life long or in every cell), broadly distributed
Describe early evidence for imprinting in mammals - exps
Mouse embryos constructed by pro nuclear transfer exps = need male and female pronuclei to develop
If have 2 fem nuclei = no extra embryonic tissues, partial dev, not viable
If have 2 male nuclei = poor embryonic dev = no viable
Exps = 1980s
Other species can do this = parthenogenesis- NOT mammals
Describe early evidence for imprinting in mammals - do you need both male and female contributions to the embryo
YUHHHHHHHHHH
What does imprinting account for
Non equivalence of maternal and paternal genomes
Newer exp = reveals that imprinting is why cannot use 2 same pronuclei alone
Oocyte nucleus in which 2 maternally silenced genes have been activated = turn these 2 genes on =rescues dev = overcomes lack of imprinting and creates fatherless mice
Where are imprinted genes typically found
In large clusters = tend to form domains or clusters
What are imprinted gene clusters controlled by
Imprinting control regions = ICRs
Region important for whole pattern, specific master control region
Ig-dmr = differentially meyhtlated region - part of ICR
What happens when delete icr
Deletion of icr on paternal allele disrupts the expression pattern for entire cluster of genes
Name and describe functions of imprinted genes - 4
(Share functional characteristics)
1- tend to have high levels of expression in prenatal stages
2- growth and metabolism, neurological development, developed of placenta
3- clinical relevance = genetic disorders involving defective imprinting
4- imprinting is often disrupted in cancer cells - epigenetic disregulation
Describe evolutionary origins of imprinting - emergence
Emergence of imprinting linked to that of the placenta-marsupials (yolk like placenta) and placental mammals have imprinting
MONOTREMEs do not (mammals that do not have placenta)
Describe evolutionary origins of imprinting - parental conflict hypothesis - gen
Imprinted genes reflect competition between males for limited female resources
Describe evolutionary origins of imprinting - parental conflict hypothesis - Mat and pat
If a single female mates with multiple males, males want to ensure their offspring outcompete those from competitor males whereas the female wants to allocate ressources to all offspring evenly - regardless of dad
Males look out for own genetic interest
Describe evolutionary origins of imprinting - parental conflict hypothesis - conclusions
Posits that maternally expressed genes are growth restricting for fetus, opposite for paternally expressed genes - growth promoting (not all genes but most fit the idea)
What is the key epigenetic mark for imprinting
DNA meth
Imprinting starts with dna meth
What are imprinting genes usually associated with
CpG islands that are differentially methylated on maternal and paternal alleles - between (= differetially methylated regions or dmrs) = CORRESPOND TO ICRs defined genetically
How is imprinted established - icrs
By dnmt3a - enzyme, in germ line
Maintained by dmnt1
When is imprinting erased
During germ cell migration to developing gonads, erased at specific stage - during germ cell dev
What else is involved with gene imprinting - mods
Not just dna meth
Histone mods, non coding RNA’s also involved - recent examples of imprinted genes not associated with DMR but instead marked with H3k27 methylation
Describe the 2 instances of global reprogramming of dna meth in dev
Period of global epigenetic remodeling = all and meth removed
Happens when germ cells (pcgs) migrate to genial ridge = E9.5-11.5= all dna meth erased
Imprinting established after this
When does imprinting establishment occur
During germ cell dev after genome wide erasure of dna methylation
DNA CpG methylation erased genome wide in pcgs = diff timings tho for male and female
Describe timing of imprinting
Male = immediately after = E13.5
Female = bit longer, not until embryo post natal = P21
Set own pattern of imprinting - best to do here since erased all other, so can establish patterns
Name/describe the 2 types of imprinting mechanisms involving dna methylation
Maternally methylated
Paternally methylated
How establish methylation = male vs female
describe the MAT types of imprinting mechanisms involving dna methylation
Maternally methylated DMRs and ICRs located at promoters and block promoter function - occurs at CpG islands
describe the PAT types of imprinting mechanisms involving dna methylation
Paternally methylated dmrs and icrs are located between genes and affect enhancer function - more distant
Less studied
Describe Igf2-h19 imprinted domain - gen
Domain with 2 genes = igf2 and h19 next to each other in genome
Mat = enhancer downstream h19 genes, no igf2 but yes h19
Pat = igf2 but no h19 - differential methylation between the 2 genes = h19 not transcribed
Supports the theory - growth vs non growth - mat/pat