Reprogramming of the paternal genome upon fertilization involves genome-wide oxidation of 5-methylcytosine
University of Southern California · City of Hope · +1 more institution
Abstract
Genome-wide erasure of DNA cytosine-5 methylation has been reported to occur along the paternal pronucleus in fertilized oocytes in an apparently replication-independent manner, but the mechanism of this reprogramming process has remained enigmatic. Recently, considerable amounts of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), most likely derived from enzymatic oxidation of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) by TET proteins, have been detected in certain mammalian tissues. 5hmC has been proposed as a potential intermediate in active DNA demethylation. Here, we show that in advanced pronuclear-stage zygotes the paternal pronucleus contains substantial amounts of 5hmC but lacks 5mC. The converse is true for the maternal pronucleus,…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 41.50
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 47
Authors
4Topics & keywords
- Reprogramming
- 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine
- 5-Methylcytosine
- DNA demethylation
- Biology
- Male pronucleus
- Zygote
- Pronucleus
- Responsible consumption and production