Analysis of IGF2 mRNA expression and its methylation status between cattle yaks and their parents

作者：Liu Zhenshan; Li Qifa; Zhang Qingbo; Qu Xuguang; Dong Liyan; Yang zom Chamba; Xie Zhuang^*; Liu Honglin

来源：Progress in Natural Science, 2009, 19(9): 1063-1069.

DOI：10.1016/j.pnsc.2008.10.013

• Cattle yak
• Male sterility
• IGF2 gene
• mRNA expression
• DNA methylation

Cattle yaks are an F1 hybrid between cattle and yaks and exhibit significant hybrid vigor. However, cattle yaks are sterile males. To study the epigenetic aspects of this reproductive isolation, IGF2 mRNA expression in cattle yaks and their parents and the patterns of the IGF2 differentially methylated regions (DMR) were examined in blood and testes. The results showed that IGF2 expression in cattle yaks' testes was lower than in their parents (P < 0.01). The IGF2 DMR was highly methylated (above 90%) in blood and testes of cattle yaks, yaks and cattle, with the highest level in cattle yaks (P > 0.05). Our study showed that IGF2 plays an important role in bovine spermatogenesis and might be involved in cattle-yak male sterility. The methylation level of the IGF2 DMR was irrelevant to the lower expression of IGF2 in cattle yaks; other factors perhaps play roles in its expression.

• 出版日期2009-9-10
• 单位山东省农业科学院; 南京农业大学; 西藏大学