Genomic imprinting: the influence of differential methylation in the two sexes

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Shweta Biliya¹ and
Lee A Bulla, Jr^1,2,

¹ Biological Targets Inc, PO Box 1529, Pilot Point, TX 76258
² Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA

Corresponding author: Lee A Bulla. Email: labulla{at}biologicaltargets.com

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic form of gene regulationthat entails differential sex-specific methylation of the allelesof a gene. Such methylation distinguishes male and female genomesand is inherited in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. Sex-specificimprints are established in the germline during gametogenesisand remain intact throughout embryonic and postnatal development.Reprogramming of methylation patterns in gametes is essentialto sex-specific inheritance of imprinted genes and assures exclusiveharboring of female- and male-specific imprinted patterns inmaternal and paternal gametes, respectively. The consequencesof genomic imprinting are manifested by its loss, which canlead to a variety of disorders, the most prominent ones beingPrader–Willi and Angelman syndromes. Although a greatdeal of research has been carried out to examine various imprintingmechanisms, little is known about the establishment and regulationof imprinted genes. In the present paper, we describe severalepigenetic mechanisms that have relevance in imprinting andthat may have impact on embryonic development, fetal growthand animal cloning.

Keywords: Angelman syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, cloning, differentially methylated region, epigenetic modification, epigenetic reprogramming, epigenomics, genomic imprinting, imprinting center, imprinting control region, methylation, Prader–Willi syndrome, somatic cell nuclear transfer, uniparental disomy

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