Functional characterization of the imprinted Liz/Zdbf2 locus in mice : from the early embryo to adult physiology

Overview & Synopsis

Genomic imprinting refers to the epigenetic mechanism by which approximately 120 genes are expressed in a parent-of-origin manner. This parental asymmetry in gene expression is mediated through differential profiles of DNA methylation established in the oocyte and the sperm and maintained after fertilization in the developing individual. In mammals, imprinted genes are essential for normal embryo development as well as behavioral and physiological functions after birth. Clarifying the regulation and the function of those genes is thus fundamental in the field of developmental biology and health. During my PhD, I functionally characterized the imprinted Zdbf2 locus in mice. Zdbf2 is a paternally expressed gene, conserved from mouse to human, whose biological function was unknown. I revealed that Zdbf2 activation in the post-natal brain requires an indelible epigenetic signal that is established during the first days of embryogenesis. Additionally, I provided in vivo evidence that early programming of Zdbf2 is essential for proper growth after birth. By generating multiple CRISPR-mediated genetic mutants with varied doses of Zdbf2 in the hypothalamo-pituitary axis, I finally demonstrated that Zdbf2 is a growth-promoting gene, with a dose-sensitive effect and acting independently of its parental origin. Altogether, my work shed light onto the crucial function of a mammalian imprinted gene, from its regulation in the early embryo to its role in adult physiology.