Postnatal DNA demethylation and its role in tissue maturation

Yitzhak Reizel, Ofra Sabag, Yael Skversky, Adam Spiro, Benjamin Steinberg, Diana Bernstein, Amber Wang, Julia Kieckhaefer, Catherine Li, Eli Pikarsky, Rena Levin-Klein, Alon Goren, Klaus Rajewsky, Klaus H. Kaestner and Howard Cedar ()
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Yitzhak Reizel: Hebrew University Medical School
Ofra Sabag: Hebrew University Medical School
Yael Skversky: Hebrew University Medical School
Adam Spiro: Hebrew University Medical School
Benjamin Steinberg: Hebrew University Medical School
Diana Bernstein: Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 12-126 Translational Research Center
Amber Wang: Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 12-126 Translational Research Center
Julia Kieckhaefer: Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 12-126 Translational Research Center
Catherine Li: The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT
Eli Pikarsky: Hebrew University Medical School
Rena Levin-Klein: University of Minnesota
Alon Goren: The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT
Klaus Rajewsky: Molekulare Medizin (MDC)
Klaus H. Kaestner: Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 12-126 Translational Research Center
Howard Cedar: Hebrew University Medical School

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Development in mammals is accompanied by specific de novo and demethylation events that are thought to stabilize differentiated cell phenotypes. We demonstrate that a large percentage of the tissue-specific methylation pattern is generated postnatally. Demethylation in the liver is observed in thousands of enhancer-like sequences associated with genes that undergo activation during the first few weeks of life. Using a conditional gene ablation strategy we show that the removal of these methyl groups is stable and necessary for assuring proper hepatocyte gene expression and function through its effect on chromatin accessibility. These postnatal changes in methylation come about through exposure to hormone signaling. These results define the molecular rules of 5-methyl-cytosine regulation as an epigenetic mechanism underlying cellular responses to a changing environment.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04456-6

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