Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance of MHC Class I Gene Expression is Regulated by the CCAAT Promoter Element. 2023

Jocelyn D Weissman, and Aparna Kotekar, and Zohar Barbash, and Jie Mu, and Dinah S Singer
Experimental Immunology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892.

Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance is defined as the transmission of traits or gene expression patterns across multiple generations that do not derive from DNA alterations. The effect of multiple stress factors or metabolic changes resulting in such inheritance have been documented in plants, worms and flies and mammals. The molecular basis for epigenetic inheritance has been linked to histone and DNA modifications and non-coding RNA. In this study, we show that mutation of a promoter element, the CCAAT box, disrupts stable expression of an MHC Class I transgene, resulting in variegated expression among progeny for at least 4 generations in multiple independently derived transgenic lines. Histone modifications and RNA polII binding correlate with expression, whereas DNA methylation and nucleosome occupancy do not. Mutation of the CCAAT box abrogates NF-Y binding and results in changes to CTCF binding and DNA looping patterns across the gene that correlate with expression status from one generation to the next. These studies identify the CCAAT promoter element as a regulator of stable transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Considering that the CCAAT box is present in 30% of eukaryotic promoters, this study could provide important insights into how fidelity of gene expression patterns is maintained through multiple generations.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries

Related Publications

Jocelyn D Weissman, and Aparna Kotekar, and Zohar Barbash, and Jie Mu, and Dinah S Singer
December 2018, Genetics,
Jocelyn D Weissman, and Aparna Kotekar, and Zohar Barbash, and Jie Mu, and Dinah S Singer
August 1993, The EMBO journal,
Jocelyn D Weissman, and Aparna Kotekar, and Zohar Barbash, and Jie Mu, and Dinah S Singer
January 2015, PloS one,
Jocelyn D Weissman, and Aparna Kotekar, and Zohar Barbash, and Jie Mu, and Dinah S Singer
November 1995, Science (New York, N.Y.),
Jocelyn D Weissman, and Aparna Kotekar, and Zohar Barbash, and Jie Mu, and Dinah S Singer
September 2000, Human gene therapy,
Jocelyn D Weissman, and Aparna Kotekar, and Zohar Barbash, and Jie Mu, and Dinah S Singer
March 2013, Nature reviews. Genetics,
Jocelyn D Weissman, and Aparna Kotekar, and Zohar Barbash, and Jie Mu, and Dinah S Singer
August 2016, Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950),
Jocelyn D Weissman, and Aparna Kotekar, and Zohar Barbash, and Jie Mu, and Dinah S Singer
December 2024, Epigenetics,
Jocelyn D Weissman, and Aparna Kotekar, and Zohar Barbash, and Jie Mu, and Dinah S Singer
April 1997, International immunology,
Jocelyn D Weissman, and Aparna Kotekar, and Zohar Barbash, and Jie Mu, and Dinah S Singer
May 1997, Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950),
Copied contents to your clipboard!