1. A genome-wide search for epigenetically [corrected] regulated genes in zebra finch using MethylCap-seq and RNA-seq.
- Author
-
Steyaert S, Diddens J, Galle J, De Meester E, De Keulenaer S, Bakker A, Sohnius-Wilhelmi N, Frankl-Vilches C, Van der Linden A, Van Criekinge W, Vanden Berghe W, and De Meyer T
- Subjects
- Animals, Avian Proteins metabolism, Azacitidine analogs & derivatives, Azacitidine pharmacology, Cell Line, Tumor, CpG Islands, DNA Methylation drug effects, Decitabine, Female, Finches metabolism, Gene Regulatory Networks, Learning physiology, Male, Memory physiology, Nerve Tissue Proteins metabolism, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Sequence Analysis, RNA, Avian Proteins genetics, Epigenesis, Genetic, Finches genetics, Genome, Nerve Tissue Proteins genetics
- Abstract
Learning and memory formation are known to require dynamic CpG (de)methylation and gene expression changes. Here, we aimed at establishing a genome-wide DNA methylation map of the zebra finch genome, a model organism in neuroscience, as well as identifying putatively epigenetically regulated genes. RNA- and MethylCap-seq experiments were performed on two zebra finch cell lines in presence or absence of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine induced demethylation. First, the MethylCap-seq methodology was validated in zebra finch by comparison with RRBS-generated data. To assess the influence of (variable) methylation on gene expression, RNA-seq experiments were performed as well. Comparison of RNA-seq and MethylCap-seq results showed that at least 357 of the 3,457 AZA-upregulated genes are putatively regulated by methylation in the promoter region, for which a pathway analysis showed remarkable enrichment for neurological networks. A subset of genes was validated using Exon Arrays, quantitative RT-PCR and CpG pyrosequencing on bisulfite-treated samples. To our knowledge, this study provides the first genome-wide DNA methylation map of the zebra finch genome as well as a comprehensive set of genes of which transcription is under putative methylation control.
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF