Fig. 4

DNMT1 depletion leads to replication-dependent DNA demethylation and activation of CG genes. a The mRNA expression levels of DNMT1 and of three CG genes (MAGEA1, MAGEA3, and CTCFL) were analyzed in HNEM-hTERT- and BJ-hTERT-derived clones exposed or not to doxycycline during 7 days. Values, which derive from al least three independent experiments, were normalized by the ACTINB expression level and are expressed relative to the levels found in − doxy cells. b DNA methylation levels within the MAGEA1 5'-region and LINE-1 sequences were evaluated by MS-qPCR in the different clones, either with or without exposure (7 or 14 days) to doxycycline. Data represent the mean (± sem) of four independent qMS-PCR experiments, each in duplicate. *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001