Figure 3

DNA methylation inhibits GRN promoter activity at distinct CpG units. In vitro methylated and unmethylated pCpGL plasmids containing the GRN core promoter region driving expression of firefly luciferase were transiently cotransfected into (a) HEK 293FT cells and (b) primary rat cortical neurons together with a Renilla luciferase expressing plasmid. The full length GRN promoter pCpGL plasmid, a GRN promoter construct with site specific mutations of the significant CpG units in amplicons A-1 and A-2, and a short GRN promoter construct lacking amplicons A-1 and A-2 were transiently cotransfected into (c) HEK 293FT cells and (d) primary rat cortical neurons together with a Renilla luciferase expressing plasmid. Luciferase reporter activity was measured 48 h (a + c, HEK 293FT) or 72 h (b + d, neurons) after transfection. Relative luciferase activity was determined by normalizing firefly luciferase against Renilla luciferase activity. The empty vector was used as negative control. Mean ± SEM, n ≥ 3. ***p < 0.001, Student’s t-test, sign. significant.