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Changes in DNA methylation are among the best-documented epigenetic alterations accompanying organismal aging. However, whether and how altered DNA methylation is causally involved in aging have remained elusive. GADD45α (growth arrest and DNA damage protein 45A) and ING1 (inhibitor of growth family member 1) are adapter proteins for site-specific demethylation by TET (ten-eleven translocation) methylcytosine dioxygenases. Here we show that Gadd45a/Ing1 double-knockout mice display segmental progeria and phenocopy impaired energy homeostasis and lipodystrophy characteristic of Cebp (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein) mutants. Correspondingly, GADD45α occupies C/EBPβ/δ-dependent superenhancers and, cooperatively with ING1, promotes local DNA demethylation via long-range chromatin loops to permit C/EBPβ recruitment. The results indicate that enhancer methylation can affect aging and imply that C/EBP proteins play an unexpected role in this process. Our study suggests a causal nexus between DNA demethylation, metabolism, and organismal aging.

Original publication

DOI

10.1101/gad.311969.118

Type

Journal article

Journal

Genes Dev

Publication Date

01/06/2018

Volume

32

Pages

742 - 762

Keywords

Cebp, E2F, adipogenesis, aging, chromatin looping, progeria, Aging, Aging, Premature, Animals, CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins, Cell Cycle Proteins, Cells, Cultured, DNA Demethylation, Homeostasis, Inhibitor of Growth Protein 1, Lipodystrophy, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Nuclear Proteins