ABERRANT METHYLATION OF AN IMPRINTED GENE U2AF1-RS1(SP2) CAUSED BY ITS OWN TRANSGENE

Genomic imprinting refers to the parental allele-specific expression o f genes. The precise mechanism underlying this phenomenon, which may i nvolve DNA methylation, is not yet known. U2af1-rs1(SP2) is an imprint ed gene expressed from the paternal allele and is methylated on the ma ternal allele. Here we report an artificial system in which expression and methylation of the endogenous imprinted gene U2af1-rs1 can be aff ected by interaction with its own transgene in the testis. We suggest that there is a mechanism in male gametogenesis by which the U2af1-rs1 gene is kept unmethylated to be expressed in the offspring in additio n to a mechanism in female gametogenesis by which the U2af1-rs1 gene i s methylated and is not expressed in the offspring.