DNA methylation in mice is influenced by genetics as well as sex and life experience

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08067-z
• Publication Date: 2019-01-14T10:14:00Z
• Authors: Sara A. Grimm; Takashi Shimbo; Motoki Takaku; James W. Thomas; Scott Auerbach; Brian D. Bennett; John R. Bucher; Adam B. Burkholder; Frank Day; Ying Du; Christopher G. Du...; John E. French; Julie F. Foley; Jianying Li; B. Alex Merrick; Raymond R. Tice; Tianyuan Wang; Xiaojiang Xu; ; Beatrice B. Barnabas; Gerard G. Bouffard; Shelise Y. Brooks; Holly Coleman; Lyudmila Dekhtyar; Xiaobin Guan; Joel Han; Shi-ling Ho; Richelle Legaspi; Quino L. Maduro; Catherine A. Masi...; Jennifer C. McDowell; Cassandra Montemayor; Morgan Park; Nancy L. Riebow; Karen Schandler; Chanthra Scharer; Brian Schmidt; Christina Sison; Sirintorn Stantripop; Pamela J. Thomas; Meghana Vemulapalli; Alice C. Young; Pierre R. Bushel; David C. Fargo; James C. Mullikin; Paul A. Wade
• Keywords: CpG site; Bisulfite sequencing; Genomic Imprinting; Differentially methylated regions; RNA-Directed DNA Methylation; Epigenomics

Abstract DNA methylation is an essential epigenetic process in mammals, intimately involved gene regulation. Here we address the extent to which genetics, sex, and pregnancy influence genomic by intercrossing 2 inbred mouse strains, C57BL/6N C3H/HeN, analyzing parents offspring using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. Differential across genotype detected at thousands of loci preserved on parental alleles offspring. In comparison autosomal patterns hundreds differentially methylated regions are detected. Comparison animals with different histories within our study reveals a CpG pattern that restricted female had borne Collectively, results demonstrate stability generations, clarify interplay epigenetics genetics suggest may serve as record life events somatic tissues whose expression linked relevant biology.