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Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Genome-wide Analysis using ChIP to Identify Isoform-specific Gene Targets
Published on: July 7, 2010
A genome-wide search for new imprinted genes in the human placenta identifies DSCAM as the first imprinted gene on
Laïla Allach El Khattabi1,2,3,4, Stéphanie Backer1,2,3, Amélie Pinard1,2,3,5
1INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.
Abstract:
We identified, through a genome-wide search for new imprinted genes in the human placenta, DSCAM (Down Syndrome Cellular Adhesion Molecule) as a paternally expressed imprinted gene. Our work revealed the presence of a Differentially Methylated Region (DMR), located within intron 1 that might regulate the imprinting in the region. This DMR showed a maternal allele methylation, compatible with its paternal expression. We showed that DSCAM is present in endothelial cells and the syncytiotrophoblast layer of the human placenta. In mouse, Dscam expression is biallelic in foetal brain and placenta excluding any possible imprinting in these tissues. This gene encodes a cellular adhesion molecule mainly known for its role in neurone development but its function in the placenta remains unclear. We report here the first imprinted gene located on human chromosome 21 with potential clinical implications.
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