Expression of mRNAs for DNA methyltransferases and methyl‐CpG‐binding proteins in the human female germ line, preimplantation embryos, and embryonic stem cells

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2004 papers

Abstract

Recent evidence indicates that mammalian gametogenesis and preimplantation development may be adversely affected by both assisted reproductive and stem cell technologies. Thus, a better understanding of the developmental regulation of the underlying epigenetic processes that include DNA methylation is required. We have, therefore, monitored the expression, by PCR, of the mRNAs of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), methyl-CpG-binding domain proteins (MBDs), and CpG binding protein (CGBP) in a developmental series of amplified cDNA samples derived from staged human ovarian follicles, oocytes, preimplantation embryos, human embryonic stem (hES) cells and in similar murine cDNA samples. Transcripts of these genes were detected in human ovarian follicles (DNMT3A, DNMT3b1, DNMT3b4, DNMT1, MDBs1-4, MeCP2, CGBP), germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes (DNMT3A, DNMT3b1, DNMT1, MDBs1-4, MeCP2, CGBP), mature oocytes (DNMT3A, DNMT3b1, DNMT1, CGBP), and preimplantation embryos (DNMT3A, DNMT3b1, DNMT1, DNMT3L, MBD2, MDB4, CGBP). Differential expression of DNMT3B gene transcripts in undifferentiated (DNMT3b1) and in vitro differentiated human ES cells (DNMT3b3) further demonstrated an association of the DNMT3b1 transcript variant with totipotent and pluripotent human cells. Significantly, whilst the murine Dnmt3L gene is both expressed and essential for imprint establishment during murine oogenesis, transcripts of the human DNMT3L gene were only detected after fertilisation. Therefore, the mechanisms and/or the timing of imprint establishment may differ in humans.

Related Papers

• → DNMT family induces down-regulation of NDRG1 via DNA methylation and clinicopathological significance in gastric cancer(2021)10 cited
• → Genetic Analyses of DNA Methyltransferase Genes in Mouse Model System(2002)38 cited
• Expression of DNA Methyltransferase (DNMT) 1, 3a and 3b Proteins in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma(2010)
• Effects of Hydroquinone on the Expression of DNA Methyltransferase(2012)
• → Expression and clinical significance of DNA methyltransferases in Hepatocellular Carcinoma(2012)