Abstract
DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification involved in gene silencing and genome stability. In mice, Prl family genes form gene cluster in about 1‐Mbp region. The Prl family genes other than Prl can be divided into two groups based on their expression patterns. One group is expressed only in placenta (group I), and the other group is expressed in placenta and a few other tissues (group II). This suggests that each group has gained specific regulation system for expression pattern. In our previous study, rat PL‐I, a member of Prl family, has been shown to have a tissue‐dependent and differentially methylated region (T‐DMR) hypomethylated in placenta. To explore epigenetic regulation of all the Prl family genes, we analyzed methylation status of them in placenta, liver and brain. We found that all the Prl family genes have T‐DMRs. Moreover, group I genes tended to have T‐DMRs hypomethylated specifically in placenta, and group II genes tended to be hypomethylated in placenta but showed variable methylation level in other tissues. Two groups of DNA methylation patterns were associated with the gene orientation in the cluster. The present study suggests that tissue‐specific expression patterns of Prl family genes are regulated by DNA methylation in association with the gene orientaion.This work was supported by KAKENHI (21248039) from MEXT, japan.
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