FUT1基因启动子区甲基化及其与mRNA表达关系分析

he aim of this study was to analyze the influence of promoter methylation on the expression of alpha (1, 2)-fucosyltransferase (FUT1) gene, which controls the expression of the receptor for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F18 (ETEC F18) and provide a basis for further study of the mechanisms regulating FUT1. We used bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) and real-time PCR to analyze the methylation status of the FUT1 5'-flanking region and FUT1 mRNA expression in the duodenum of Sutai piglets at three ages from newborn to weaning. FUT1 contains three CpG islands upstream of the start codon; two of these CpG islands are located in the putative promoter region containing multiple characteristic promoter elements and transcription factor binding sites, such as CpG islands, a CAAT box, SP1and EARLY-SEQ1. The non-CpG island between nucleotides -2174 and -1762 was highly methylated, though its methylation status did not vary with age. The CpG island between nucleotides -1762 and -580 had a low degree of methylation, and its methylation level was significantly lower in 35-day-old piglets than 8- and 18-day-old piglets (P<0.05). FUT1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in 35-day-old piglets than 8- and 18-day-old piglets (P<0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that the methylation status of the CpG island between nucleotides -1762 and -580 of FUT1 was significantly, negatively correlated with FUT1 mRNA expression (P<0.05). These results demonstrate that differential methylation of CpG islands negatively regulate the expression of FUT1 in the porcine duodenum, and suggest that differential methylation may affect the resistance of piglets to infection with ETEC F18.