Epigenetic changes induced by in utero dietary challenge result in phenotypic variability in successive generations of mice
File(s)s41467-022-30022-2.pdf (6.37 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Transmission of epigenetic information between generations occurs in nematodes, flies and plants, mediated by specialised small RNA pathways, modified histones and DNA methylation. Similar processes in mammals can also affect phenotype through intergenerational or trans-generational mechanisms. Here we generate a luciferase knock-in reporter mouse for the imprinted Dlk1 locus to visualise and track epigenetic fidelity across generations. Exposure to high-fat diet in pregnancy provokes sustained re-expression of the normally silent maternal Dlk1 in offspring (loss of imprinting) and increased DNA methylation at the somatic differentially methylated region (sDMR). In the next generation heterogeneous Dlk1 mis-expression is seen exclusively among animals born to F1-exposed females. Oocytes from these females show altered gene and microRNA expression without changes in DNA methylation, and correct imprinting is restored in subsequent generations. Our results illustrate how diet impacts the foetal epigenome, disturbing canonical and non-canonical imprinting mechanisms to modulate the properties of successive generations of offspring.
Date Issued
2022-05-05
Date Acceptance
2022-04-19
Citation
Nature Communications, 2022, 13
ISSN
2041-1723
Publisher
Nature Research
Journal / Book Title
Nature Communications
Volume
13
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2022. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
License URL
Sponsor
Wellcome Trust
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Grant Number
099276/Z/12/Z
PO4050659629
Subjects
Science & Technology
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Science & Technology - Other Topics
HIGH-FAT DIET
DNA METHYLATION
NONCODING RNA
IMPRINTED GENES
SPERM RNAS
MOUSE
DLK1
EXPRESSION
INHERITANCE
ACTIVATION
Animals
Biological Variation, Population
DNA Methylation
Diet, High-Fat
Epigenesis, Genetic
Female
Genomic Imprinting
Mammals
Mice
Pregnancy
Animals
Mammals
Mice
DNA Methylation
Epigenesis, Genetic
Genomic Imprinting
Pregnancy
Female
Diet, High-Fat
Biological Variation, Population
Article Number
ARTN 2464