Trans-allelic mutational effects at the Peg3 imprinted locus

PLoS One. 2018 Oct 18;13(10):e0206112. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206112. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

How one allele interacts with the other for the function of a gene is not well understood. In this study, we tested potential allelic interaction at the Peg3 imprinted locus with several mutant alleles targeting an Imprinting Control Region, the Peg3-DMR. According to the results, maternal deletion of the Peg3-DMR resulted in 2-fold up-regulation of two paternally expressed genes, Peg3 and Usp29. These trans-allelic mutational effects were observed consistently throughout various tissues with different developmental stages. These effects were also associated mainly with the genetic manipulation of the Peg3-DMR, but not with the other genomic changes within the Peg3 locus. The observed trans-allelic effects were unidirectional with the maternal influencing the paternal allele, but not with the opposite direction. Overall, the observed mutational effects suggest the presence of previously unrecognized trans-allelic regulation associated with the Peg3-DMR.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genomic Imprinting
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mutation*
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases / genetics*

Substances

  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • Peg3 protein, mouse
  • USP29 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases