The Transmission of Intergenerational Epigenetic Information by Sperm microRNAs
Epigenetic information is transmitted from one generation to the next, modulating the phenotype of offspring non-genetically in organisms ranging from plants to mammals. For intergenerational non-genetic inheritance to occur, epigenetic information must accumulate in germ cells. The three main carri...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Epigenomes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4655/6/2/12 |
| _version_ | 1827660454153945088 |
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| author | Grace S. Lee Colin C. Conine |
| author_facet | Grace S. Lee Colin C. Conine |
| author_sort | Grace S. Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Epigenetic information is transmitted from one generation to the next, modulating the phenotype of offspring non-genetically in organisms ranging from plants to mammals. For intergenerational non-genetic inheritance to occur, epigenetic information must accumulate in germ cells. The three main carriers of epigenetic information—histone post-translational modifications, DNA modifications, and RNAs—all exhibit dynamic patterns of regulation during germ cell development. For example, histone modifications and DNA methylation are extensively reprogrammed and often eliminated during germ cell maturation and after fertilization during embryogenesis. Consequently, much attention has been given to RNAs, specifically small regulatory RNAs, as carriers of inherited epigenetic information. In this review, we discuss examples in which microRNAs have been implicated as key players in transmitting paternal epigenetic information intergenerationally. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:50:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b5482f5cba364bdfaaa917625607f5d3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4655 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:50:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Epigenomes |
| spelling | doaj.art-b5482f5cba364bdfaaa917625607f5d32023-11-23T16:34:29ZengMDPI AGEpigenomes2075-46552022-04-01621210.3390/epigenomes6020012The Transmission of Intergenerational Epigenetic Information by Sperm microRNAsGrace S. Lee0Colin C. Conine1Pharmacology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USADepartments of Genetics and Pediatrics—Penn Epigenetics Institute, Institute of Regenerative Medicine, and Center for Reproduction and Women’s Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USAEpigenetic information is transmitted from one generation to the next, modulating the phenotype of offspring non-genetically in organisms ranging from plants to mammals. For intergenerational non-genetic inheritance to occur, epigenetic information must accumulate in germ cells. The three main carriers of epigenetic information—histone post-translational modifications, DNA modifications, and RNAs—all exhibit dynamic patterns of regulation during germ cell development. For example, histone modifications and DNA methylation are extensively reprogrammed and often eliminated during germ cell maturation and after fertilization during embryogenesis. Consequently, much attention has been given to RNAs, specifically small regulatory RNAs, as carriers of inherited epigenetic information. In this review, we discuss examples in which microRNAs have been implicated as key players in transmitting paternal epigenetic information intergenerationally.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4655/6/2/12microRNAsspermepigenetic inheritanceenvironmental exposures |
| spellingShingle | Grace S. Lee Colin C. Conine The Transmission of Intergenerational Epigenetic Information by Sperm microRNAs Epigenomes microRNAs sperm epigenetic inheritance environmental exposures |
| title | The Transmission of Intergenerational Epigenetic Information by Sperm microRNAs |
| title_full | The Transmission of Intergenerational Epigenetic Information by Sperm microRNAs |
| title_fullStr | The Transmission of Intergenerational Epigenetic Information by Sperm microRNAs |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Transmission of Intergenerational Epigenetic Information by Sperm microRNAs |
| title_short | The Transmission of Intergenerational Epigenetic Information by Sperm microRNAs |
| title_sort | transmission of intergenerational epigenetic information by sperm micrornas |
| topic | microRNAs sperm epigenetic inheritance environmental exposures |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4655/6/2/12 |
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