ISSN:
1432-041X
Keywords:
Key words Genomic imprinting
;
Allele-specific
;
In situ hybridisation
;
Random inactivation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The IGF2 and H19 genes are genomically imprinted and expressed preferentially from the paternal and maternal alleles, respectively, during human prenatal development. The exact role of the parental imprint(s), however, is not known. To explore this issue in some detail, we have examined human androgenetic cells which by definition should be incapable of allelic discrimination given the paternal origin of both genomes. Allele-specific in situ hybridisation analysis of dispermic complete hydatidiform moles shows that IGF2 and H19 can be found to be transcriptionally active in a variegated manner, which results in the generation of random monoallelic expression patterns. This data shows that imprinted genes can be expressed monoallelically in the absence of discriminating parental marks and raises the question whether or not mechanisms underlying monoallelic expression preceded the acquisition of parental imprints during evolution.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004270050233
