DNA methylation status of imprinted and non imprinted loci bound by ZFP57 and associated chromatin modifiers identified by ChIP seq in murine embrional stem cells

Establishment, maintenance and reprogramming of DNA methylation is a fundamental process in the shaping of the epigenome of importance in development, cell differentiation and health state of individuals. Genomic imprinting represents a well characterized epigenetic process from germ cells to adults of parent of origin region-specific DNA methylation control leading to allele-specific regulated expression. Recently we showed that the ZFP57 factor, together with associated chromatin modifiers, is required for the maintenance of DNA methylation at Imprinting Control Regions (ICRs). Based on the results of ChIP Seq profiling in murine ES cells of endogenous ZFP57, showing association to hundreds regions including also several CpG islands different from ICRs, our aim is to establish the correlation and ZFP57-dependence of DNA methylation and histone modifications at targeted loci and their epigenetic ontogeny. We will report on ongoing studies that integrate existing DNA methylation genome-wide studies, ChIP seq profiling of ZFP57 and associated modifiers, and analysis of DNA methylation status of selected ZFP57 targets in murine ES cells.