Genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation in KRAB-ZFP cluster KO ES cells

We report a retrotransposon-specific loss of CpG methylation in chromosome 4 KRAB-ZFP cluster (Chr4-cl) KO ES cells that are cultivated in conditions that induce DNA hypomethylation. The retrotransposon groups with the strongest DNA methylation loss are the main targets of the KRAB-ZFPs within the deleted gene cluster indicating that these KRAB-ZFPs prevent complete DNA demethylation at retrotransposons during global DNA demethylation. Overall design: Analysis of CpG methylation status in WT and Chr4-cl KO ES cells in serum and 2i + vitamin C growth condition,