Research Article

Developmental methylation pattern regulates porcine GPR120 expression

Published: February 05, 2016
Genet. Mol. Res. 15(1): gmr4240 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/gmr.15014240
Cite this Article:
H.M. Wang, J.D. Ma, L. Jin, Y.H. Liu, T.D. Che, M.Z. Li, X.W. Li, H.M. Wang, J.D. Ma, L. Jin, Y.H. Liu, T.D. Che, M.Z. Li, X.W. Li (2016). Developmental methylation pattern regulates porcine GPR120 expression. Genet. Mol. Res. 15(1): gmr4240. https://doi.org/10.4238/gmr.15014240
3,189 views

Abstract

DNA methylation is an important component of the epigenetic machinery and plays a critical role in transcriptional regulation. It mostly occurs in CpG abundant regions, known as CpG islands (CGIs). G protein-coupled receptor 120 (GPR120) functions as an omega-3 fatty acid receptor and is involved in multiple-biological processes, including lipogenesis. Herein, we show that GPR120 is highly expressed in porcine mature adipose tissue and is positively associated with adipose tissue development (r = 0.86, P < 0.01). We also predicted 5 CGIs across the GPR120 genomic sequence and investigated their methylation status using the MassArray approach. Our results show that these CGIs exhibit significantly different methylation states (PCGI < 0.01), and that the DNA methylation of GPR120 5ꞌ-untranslated and first exon regions can negatively regulate its expression levels. This study will aid further investigations on the epigenetic mechanism regulating GPR120 expression.

DNA methylation is an important component of the epigenetic machinery and plays a critical role in transcriptional regulation. It mostly occurs in CpG abundant regions, known as CpG islands (CGIs). G protein-coupled receptor 120 (GPR120) functions as an omega-3 fatty acid receptor and is involved in multiple-biological processes, including lipogenesis. Herein, we show that GPR120 is highly expressed in porcine mature adipose tissue and is positively associated with adipose tissue development (r = 0.86, P GPR120 genomic sequence and investigated their methylation status using the MassArray approach. Our results show that these CGIs exhibit significantly different methylation states (PCGI GPR120 5ꞌ-untranslated and first exon regions can negatively regulate its expression levels. This study will aid further investigations on the epigenetic mechanism regulating GPR120 expression.