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| Methylation of a CTCF-dependent boundary controls imprinted expression of the Igf2 gene |
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| Author(s): Bell AC, Felsenfeld G |
| Source: NATURE Volume: 405 Issue: 6785 Pages: 482-485 Published: MAY 25 2000 |
| Times Cited: 601 References: 30 |
| Abstract: The expression of the insulin-like growth factor 2 (Igf2) and H19 genes is imprinted. Although these neighbouring genes share an enhancer(1), H19 is expressed only from the maternal allele, and Igf2 only from the paternally inherited allele(2,3). A region of paternal-specific methylation upstream of H19 appears to be the site of an epigenetic mark that is required for the imprinting of these genes(4,5). A deletion within this region results in loss of imprinting of both H19 and Igf2 (ref. 5). Here we show that this methylated region contains an element that blocks enhancer activity. The activity of this element is dependent upon the vertebrate enhancer-blocking protein CTCF. Methylation of CpGs within the CTCF-binding sites eliminates binding of CTCF in vitro, and deletion of these sites results in loss of enhancer-blocking activity in vivo, thereby allowing gene expression. This CTCF-dependent enhancer-blocking element acts as an insulator. We suggest that it controls imprinting of Igf 2. The activity of this insulator is restricted to the maternal allele by specific DNA methylation of the paternal allele. Our results reveal that DNA methylation can control gene expression by modulating enhancer access to the gene promoter through regulation of an enhancer boundary. |
| Document Type: Article |
| Language: English |
| Reprint Address: Felsenfeld, G (reprint author), NIDDKD, Mol Biol Lab, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA |
Addresses:
1. NIDDKD, Mol Biol Lab, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA |
| Publisher: MACMILLAN MAGAZINES LTD, PORTERS SOUTH, 4 CRINAN ST, LONDON N1 9XW, ENGLAND |
| Subject Category: Multidisciplinary Sciences |
| IDS Number: 317DX |
| ISSN: 0028-0836 |
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