Effects of Alcohol on the Regulation of Imprinted Genes in Mouse Stem Cells

Abstract

ABSTRACT Effects of Alcohol on the Regulation of Imprinted Genes in Mouse Stem Cells. (December 2013) Alyssa Crocker Department of Animal Science Texas A&M University

Research Advisor: Dr. Michael Golding Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology

Prenatal alcohol exposure is the leading, preventable cause of birth defects in the United States.(5) A structurally important cell layer, the placenta, is responsible for transporting nutrients from the maternal system into the developing fetus. Importantly, this transient organ is profoundly affected by alcohol consumption. Placental development is regulated by a subset of monoallelic expressed genes that are regulated by a specialized transcriptional mechanism called genomic imprinting (4). Expression of specific imprint allele’s imperative to proper placental structure and function was further analyzed by exposing trophectoderm cells to alcohol levels at the binge, and 2x binge drinker level (15).

Utilizing trophoblastic stem cells derived from a F1 cross between the C57Black6 and castaneous strains of mice; we have determined the expression of five imprinted genes when exposed to alcohol which have allowed us to measure the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing fetal epigenome. Through these experiments we have observed intensified and reduced expression of the five genes selected to be subjected to ethanol, and used for our research. One of the imprinted genes understudy, Peg3 was found to exhibit a significant up-regulation in maternal expression.