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. 1991 Dec;129(4):1159–1166. doi: 10.1093/genetics/129.4.1159

Escape from Genomic Imprinting at the Mouse T-Associated Maternal Effect (Tme) Locus

J Y Tsai 1, L M Silver 1
PMCID: PMC1204779  PMID: 1783296

Abstract

Genomic imprinting occurs at the paternally inherited allele of the mouse T-associated maternal effect (Tme) locus. As a consequence, maternal transmission of a functional Tme gene is normally required for viability and individuals that receive a Tme-deleted chromosome (T(hp) or t(lub2)) from their mother die late in gestation or shortly thereafter. Here we report that a rearranged paternally derived chromosome duplicated for the Tme locus can act to rescue animals that have not received a maternal copy of the Tme locus. Unexpectedly, all rescued animals display an abnormal short/kinky tail phenotype. Somatic transfer of genomic imprinting between homologs by means of a transvection-like process between paired Tme and T loci is proposed as a model to explain the results obtained.

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Selected References

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