Evolution of the vertebrate DNMT3 gene family: a possible link between existence of <i>DNMT3L</i> and genomic imprinting

Vol. 113, No. 1-4, 2006

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Biological Significance and Evolution

Evolution of the vertebrate DNMT3 gene family: a possible link between existence of DNMT3L and genomic imprinting
T. Yokomine^{a, b}, K. Hata^{a, b}, M. Tsudzuki^c, H. Sasaki^{a, b}

^aDivision of Human Genetics, Department of Integrated Genetics, National Institute of Genetics, Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS), Mishima;
^bDepartment of Genetics, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Mishima;
^cLaboratory of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Applied Biological Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima (Japan)

Address of Corresponding Author

Cytogenet Genome Res 2006;113:75-80 (DOI: 10.1159/000090817)

Abstract.

DNA methylation plays an essential role in genomic imprinting observed in eutherian mammals and marsupials. In mouse, one of the two de novo DNA methyltransferases, Dnmt3a, and a related protein, Dnmt3L have been shown to be essential for imprint establishment in the parental germline. To gain insights into the evolution of imprinting mechanisms, we have identified and characterized the DNMT3 family genes in other vertebrate species. We cloned cDNAs for chicken DNMT3A and DNMT3B, whose putative protein products shared 81.5% and 48.6% amino acid sequence identity with their mouse orthologues. Using computer-assisted database searches, we also identified DNMT3A and DNMT3B orthologues in fish (fugu and zebrafish) and marsupials (opossum). We found that, while opossums had an orthologue for DNMT3L, chickens and fish did not have this gene. Thus, unlike the other DNMT3 members, DNMT3L was restricted to the species in which imprinting occurs. The acquisition of DNMT3L by a common ancestor of eutherians and marsupials might have been closely related to the evolution of imprinting.

Author Contacts

Request reprints from Kenichiro Hata
Division of Human Genetics, Department of Integrated Genetics
National Institute of Genetics, ROIS, Mishima 411-8540 (Japan)
telephone: +81-55-981-6799; fax: +81-55-981-6800
e-mail: khata@lab.nig.ac.jp

Article Information

Supported by Grants-in-Aid from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan to H.S.

Manuscript received: 6 September 2005
Accepted in revised form for publication by F. Ishino,: 2 November 2005.
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 4, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 24

Medline Abstract (ID 16575165)

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