The putative Neuronatin imprint control region is an enhancer that also regulates the Blcap gene

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the regulatory potential of the Nnat second intron within the Nnat/Blcap micro-imprinted domain. Materials & methods: Mice with deletion of Nnat second intron at the endogenous Nnat/Blcap micro-imprinted domain were used to examine the effect of Nnat second intron on the transcriptional regulation of the Nnat and Blcap genes. Results & conclusion: Deletion of Nnat second intron affected Nnat expression in cis leading to the loss of Nnat expression from the active paternal allele. Nnat second intron was found to have the characteristics of an imprint control region including allele-specific DNA methylation and histone modifications and it also regulated the epigenetic profile of Nnat promoter by acting as an enhancer. Nnat second intron was also found to be regulating the expression of the Blcap transcripts.