Abstract
Expression of many cell type-specific genes is correlated with a reduced level of cytosine methylation1,2 and some results argue that genetic programmes may be activated by a reduction in DNA methylation3. During embryogenesis, however, when many genes are activated in specific cell lineages, it has not been demonstrated that they are hypomethylated prior to their expression. We have examined the timing of hypomethylation and gene activation during embryonic chick lens development for the two genes encoding δ-crystallin (the major lens-specific protein). We report here that while many of the CCGG sequences analysed become hypomethylated, most do not do so until 2 days after δ-crystallin is first synthesized. However, there is at least one site which is hypomethylated earlier, approximately when transcription is thought to commence. We conclude that hypomethylation in the δ-crystallin genes is probably not a simple process which activates transcription, although early hypomethylation events indicate obvious sites to be examined for a role in gene activation.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Razin, A. & Riggs, A. D. Science 210, 604–610 (1980).
Doerfler, W. J. gen. Virol. 57, 1–20 (1981).
Taylor, S. M. & Jones, P. A. Cell 17, 771–779 (1979).
Waalwijk, C. & Flavell, R. A. Nucleic Acids Res. 5, 4631–4641 (1978).
Jones, R. E., DeFeo, D. & Piatigorsky, J. J. biol. Chem. 256, 8172–8176 (1981).
Zwaan, J. & Ikeda, A. Expl Eye Res. 7, 301–311 (1968).
Shinohara, T. & Piatigorsky, J. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 73, 2808–2812 (1976).
Karkinen-Jääskeläinen, M. J. Embryol. exp. Morph. 44, 167–179 (1978).
Zwaan, J. Wilhelm Roux's Arch. dev. Biol. 175, 13–25 (1974).
Bird, A. P. J. molec. Biol. 118, 49–60 (1978).
McKeon, C., Ohkubo, H., Pastan, I. & de Crombrugghe, B. Cell 29, 203–210 (1982).
Wilks, A. F., Cozens, P. J., Mattaj, I. W. & Jost, J.-P. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 4252–4255 (1982).
Ott, M.-O. et al. Cell 30, 825–833 (1982).
Groudine, M. & Weintraub, H. Cell 24, 393–401 (1981).
Zwaan, J. & Pearce, T. L. Devl Biol. 25, 96–118 (1971).
Bower, D. J., Errington, L. H., Cooper, D. N., Morris, S. & Clayton, R. M. Nucleic Acids Res. 11, 2513–2527 (1983).
Southern, E. M. J. molec. Biol. 98, 503–517 (1975).
Maniatis, T. et al. Cell 15, 687–701 (1978).
Maniatis, T., Fritsch, E. F. & Sambrook, J. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1982).
O'Rahilly, R. & Meyer, D. B. Acta anat. 36, 20–58 (1959).
Hamburger, V. & Hamilton, H. L. J. Morph. 88, 49–92 (1951).
Weintraub, H., Palter, K. & Van Lente, F. Cell 6, 85–110 (1975).
Oakley, B. R., Kirsch, D. P. & Morris, N. R. Analyt. Biochem. 105, 361–363 (1980).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grainger, R., Hazard-Leonards, R., Samaha, F. et al. Is hypomethylation linked to activation of δ-crystallin genes during lens development?. Nature 306, 88–91 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/306088a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/306088a0
This article is cited by
-
Dynamic changes in whole genome DNA methylation, chromatin and gene expression during mouse lens differentiation
Epigenetics & Chromatin (2023)
-
Epigenetic changes in early life and future risk of obesity
International Journal of Obesity (2011)
-
CpG-rich islands and the function of DNA methylation
Nature (1986)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.