Figure 3

Methylation tag analysis. A: Summary of CSX methylation tags sampled from crypts of Lieberkühn. Individual crypt values ("X" for duodenal crypts and "+" for ileal crypts) and average values (open circles for the duodenum and filled circles for the ileum) were plotted for 12 small intestines. Black filled circles represent the methylation measured in fixed small intestine from children. Solid green lines represent average values for a stem cell niche simulation best matching the experimental data. Consistent with the scatter of experimental crypt values, niche simulations also produced a variety of different outcomes summarized by dotted green lines representing 95% of simulated outcomes. Gray solid lines represent average simulated values consistent with the colon [10]. Small intestine percent methylation appeared to increase more slowly than the colon with age, consistent with fewer stem cell divisions relative to the colon. B: Summary of MYOD crypt of Lieberkühn methylation tags. C: Summary of CSX villus methylation tags. Average crypt values (black circles) for the same intestine are also plotted for comparison with average villus values (red circles). Unique tags and distances were significantly greater in villi compared to crypts whereas percent methylation was not significantly different.