Epigenetic memory in mammals
Epigenetic information can be passed on from one generation to another via DNA methylation, histone modifications and changes in small RNAs, a process called epigenetic memory. During a mammal’s lifecycle epigenetic reprogramming, or the resetting of most epigenetic marks, occurs twice. The first in...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2011-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Genetics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fgene.2011.00028/full |
| _version_ | 1828914148215357440 |
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| author | Zoe eMigicovsky Igor eKovalchuk |
| author_facet | Zoe eMigicovsky Igor eKovalchuk |
| author_sort | Zoe eMigicovsky |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Epigenetic information can be passed on from one generation to another via DNA methylation, histone modifications and changes in small RNAs, a process called epigenetic memory. During a mammal’s lifecycle epigenetic reprogramming, or the resetting of most epigenetic marks, occurs twice. The first instance of reprogramming occurs in primordial germ cells and the second occurs following fertilization. These processes may be both passive and active. In order for epigenetic inheritance to occur the epigenetic modifications must be able to escape reprogramming. There are several examples supporting this non-Mendelian mechanism of inheritance including the prepacking of early developmental genes in histones instead of protamines in sperm, genomic imprinting via methylation marks, the retention of CenH3 in mammalian sperm and the inheritance of piwi-associated interfering RNAs. The ability of mammals to pass on epigenetic information to their progeny provides clear evidence that inheritance is not restricted to DNA sequence and epigenetics plays a key role in producing viable offspring. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:49:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0865d5d755a1438e882cb74ec340a44d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-8021 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:49:03Z |
| publishDate | 2011-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Genetics |
| spelling | doaj.art-0865d5d755a1438e882cb74ec340a44d2022-12-21T23:33:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Genetics1664-80212011-06-01210.3389/fgene.2011.0002811394Epigenetic memory in mammalsZoe eMigicovsky0Igor eKovalchuk1University of LethbridgeUniversity of LethbridgeEpigenetic information can be passed on from one generation to another via DNA methylation, histone modifications and changes in small RNAs, a process called epigenetic memory. During a mammal’s lifecycle epigenetic reprogramming, or the resetting of most epigenetic marks, occurs twice. The first instance of reprogramming occurs in primordial germ cells and the second occurs following fertilization. These processes may be both passive and active. In order for epigenetic inheritance to occur the epigenetic modifications must be able to escape reprogramming. There are several examples supporting this non-Mendelian mechanism of inheritance including the prepacking of early developmental genes in histones instead of protamines in sperm, genomic imprinting via methylation marks, the retention of CenH3 in mammalian sperm and the inheritance of piwi-associated interfering RNAs. The ability of mammals to pass on epigenetic information to their progeny provides clear evidence that inheritance is not restricted to DNA sequence and epigenetics plays a key role in producing viable offspring.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fgene.2011.00028/fullGenomic Imprintingepigenetic inheritanceepigenetic disease inheritanceEpigenetic memorygerm line reprogramming |
| spellingShingle | Zoe eMigicovsky Igor eKovalchuk Epigenetic memory in mammals Frontiers in Genetics Genomic Imprinting epigenetic inheritance epigenetic disease inheritance Epigenetic memory germ line reprogramming |
| title | Epigenetic memory in mammals |
| title_full | Epigenetic memory in mammals |
| title_fullStr | Epigenetic memory in mammals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epigenetic memory in mammals |
| title_short | Epigenetic memory in mammals |
| title_sort | epigenetic memory in mammals |
| topic | Genomic Imprinting epigenetic inheritance epigenetic disease inheritance Epigenetic memory germ line reprogramming |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fgene.2011.00028/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zoeemigicovsky epigeneticmemoryinmammals AT igorekovalchuk epigeneticmemoryinmammals |