Genome-Wide Reprogramming in the Mouse Germ Line Entails the Base Excision Repair Pathway

Abstract

Erasing Markers Epigenetic reprogramming of the mammalian genome, which involves the removal and replacement of the various regulatory epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation, occurs during germ cell differentiation and during early zygotic development. This process is also critical during the experimental generation of stem cells, but the factors and pathways that control epigenetic reprogramming are not well understood. Hajkova et al. (p. 78 ) investigated the erasure of DNA methylation during germ cell differentiation and during early zygotic development in the developing mouse and found that factors involved in the base excision repair (BER) pathway, which helps repair damaged DNA, were involved. Furthermore, inhibitors of BER resulted in the retention of DNA methylation in the zygote.