DNA methylation at putative MEs is influenced by season of conception in the Gambia.

(A) Percent methylation at putative MEs BOLA3, FLJ20433, PAX8, SLITRK1, and ZFYVE28 in PBL DNA of Gambian children, relative to season of conception. Each circle represents one individual, and the black lines represent group means (n = 25/group). At all 5 genomic regions, DNA methylation is higher in individuals conceived in the nutritionally challenged rainy season (BOLA3 P = 0.03, FLJ20433 P = 0.03, PAX8 P = 0.02, SLITRK1 P = 0.006, ZFYVE28 P = 0.002; overall P = 0.0001). (B) At generic LINE1 elements, as well as at 3 control genes (IGF2, GNASAS, and IL10), DNA methylation in these same individuals is not correlated with season of conception (overall P = 0.24), indicating that establishment of epigenotype at the regions we have identified is particularly labile to periconceptional environment.