%0 Journal Article
%T Genome-wide mapping of imprinted differentially methylated regions by DNA methylation profiling of human placentas from triploidies
%A Ryan KC Yuen
%A Ruby Jiang
%A Maria S Pe£żaherrera
%A Deborah E McFadden
%A Wendy P Robinson
%J Epigenetics & Chromatin
%D 2011
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1756-8935-4-10
%X By comparing the promoter methylation status of over 14,000 genes in human placentas from ten diandries (extra paternal haploid set) and ten digynies (extra maternal haploid set) and using 6 complete hydatidiform moles (paternal origin) and ten chromosomally normal placentas for comparison, we identified 62 genes with apparently imprinted DMRs (false discovery rate <0.1%). Of these 62 genes, 11 have been reported previously as DMRs that act as imprinting control regions, and the observed parental methylation patterns were concordant with those previously reported. We demonstrated that novel imprinted genes, such as FAM50B, as well as novel imprinted DMRs associated with known imprinted genes (for example, CDKN1C and RASGRF1) can be identified by using this approach. Furthermore, we have demonstrated how comparison of DNA methylation for known imprinted genes (for example, GNAS and CDKN1C) between placentas of different gestations and other somatic tissues (brain, kidney, muscle and blood) provides a detailed analysis of specific CpG sites associated with tissue-specific imprinting and gestational age-specific methylation.DNA methylation profiling of triploidies in different tissues and developmental ages can be a powerful and effective way to map and characterize imprinted regions in the genome.Genomic imprinting is a phenomenon in which one of the two alleles of a gene is expressed in a parent-of-origin manner [1]. Imprinted genes are thought to be particularly important to placental and foetal growth and development and may help regulate growth in response to maternal and foetal signals in utero [2]. To date, around 60 imprinted genes have been identified in humans (http://www.geneimprint.com webcite), largely after first being identified in mice or through characterization of specific imprinting disorders such as Prader-Willi syndrome and Angelman syndrome or Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. However, many genes are imprinted in mice but are not known to be in humans,
%U http://www.epigeneticsandchromatin.com/content/4/1/10