A strain-specific modifier on mouse chromosome 4 controls the methylation of independent transgene loci

Peter Engler*, Deanna Haasch, Carl A. Pinkert, Lynn Doglio, Medellena Glymour, Ralph Brinster, Ursula Storb

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

A transgene, pHRD, is highly methylated in 12 independent mouse lines when in a C57BL/6 strain background, but becomes progressively less methylated when bred into a DBA/2 background. Transgenes inherited from the mother are generally more methylated; however, this parental effect disappears following continued breeding into the nonmethylating strain. Mapping experiments using BXD recombinant inbred mice as well as other inbred strains indicate that a single strain-specific modifier (Ssm-1) linked to, but distinct from, Fv-1 is responsible for the strain effect. In addition to the methylated and unmethylated transgenic phenotypes, certain mice exhibit a partial methylation pattern that is a consequence of an unusual cellular mosaicism. The pHRD transgene, containing target sequences for the V(D)J recombinase, undergoes site-specific recombination only in lymphoid tissues. This V-J joining is restricted primarily to unmethylated transgene copies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)939-947
Number of pages9
JournalCell
Volume65
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 14 1991

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)

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