| First Author | Kim J | Year | 2013 |
| Journal | PLoS One | Volume | 8 |
| Issue | 12 | Pages | e83359 |
| PubMed ID | 24391757 | Mgi Jnum | J:209833 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5568804 | Doi | 10.1371/journal.pone.0083359 |
| Citation | Kim J, et al. (2013) Peg3 mutational effects on reproduction and placenta-specific gene families. PLoS One 8(12):e83359 |
| abstractText | Peg3 (paternally expressed gene 3) is an imprinted gene encoding a DNA-binding protein. This gene plays important roles in controlling fetal growth rates and nurturing behaviors. In the current study, a new mutant mouse model has been generated to further characterize the functions of this DNA-binding protein. Besides known phenotypes, this new mutant model also revealed potential roles of Peg3 in mammalian reproduction. Female heterozygotes produce a much smaller number of mature oocytes than the wild-type littermates, resulting in reduced litter sizes. According to genome-wide expression analyses, several placenta-specific gene families are de-repressed in the brain of Peg3 heterozygous embryos, including prolactin, cathepsin and carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule (Ceacam) families. The observed de-repression is more pronounced in females than in males. The de-repression of several members of these gene families is observed even in the adult brain, suggesting potential defects in epigenetic setting of the placenta-specific gene families in the Peg3 mutants. Overall, these results indicate that Peg3 likely controls the transcription of several placenta-specific gene families, and further suggest that this predicted transcriptional control by Peg3 might be mediated through unknown epigenetic mechanisms. |
