Depletion of DNMT1 in differentiated human cells highlights key classes of sensitive genes and an interplay with polycomb repression.

We have assessed for the first time the effects of chronic depletion of DNMT1 in an untransformed, differentiated human cell type. Our results suggest polycomb marking blocks remethylation and indicate the sensitivity of key neural, adipose and cancer-associated genes to loss of maintenance methylation activity.