Analysis of experience-regulated transcriptome and imprintome during critical periods of mouse visual system development reveals spatiotemporal dynamics

Hum Mol Genet. 2018 Mar 15;27(6):1039-1054. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddy023.

Abstract

Visual system development is light-experience dependent, which strongly implicates epigenetic mechanisms in light-regulated maturation. Among many epigenetic processes, genomic imprinting is an epigenetic mechanism through which monoallelic gene expression occurs in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. It is unknown if genomic imprinting contributes to visual system development. We profiled the transcriptome and imprintome during critical periods of mouse visual system development under normal- and dark-rearing conditions using B6/CAST F1 hybrid mice. We identified experience-regulated, isoform-specific and brain-region-specific imprinted genes. We also found imprinted microRNAs were predominantly clustered into the Dlk1-Dio3 imprinted locus with light experience affecting some imprinted miRNA expression. Our findings provide the first comprehensive analysis of light-experience regulation of the transcriptome and imprintome during critical periods of visual system development. Our results may contribute to therapeutic strategies for visual impairments and circadian rhythm disorders resulting from a dysfunctional imprintome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Ocular / genetics*
  • Animals
  • DNA Methylation
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / genetics
  • Eye / embryology*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Genomic Imprinting
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains / embryology
  • Mice, Inbred Strains / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Ocular Physiological Phenomena / genetics
  • Spatio-Temporal Analysis
  • Superior Colliculi / embryology
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • MicroRNAs