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Stability and flexibility of epigenetic gene regulation in mammalian development

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  • Wolf Reik

    (Laboratory of Developmental Genetics and Imprinting, The Babraham Institute)

Abstract

During development, cells start in a pluripotent state, from which they can differentiate into many cell types, and progressively develop a narrower potential. Their gene-expression programmes become more defined, restricted and, potentially, 'locked in'. Pluripotent stem cells express genes that encode a set of core transcription factors, while genes that are required later in development are repressed by histone marks, which confer short-term, and therefore flexible, epigenetic silencing. By contrast, the methylation of DNA confers long-term epigenetic silencing of particular sequences — transposons, imprinted genes and pluripotency-associated genes — in somatic cells. Long-term silencing can be reprogrammed by demethylation of DNA, and this process might involve DNA repair. It is not known whether any of the epigenetic marks has a primary role in determining cell and lineage commitment during development.

Suggested Citation

  • Wolf Reik, 2007. "Stability and flexibility of epigenetic gene regulation in mammalian development," Nature, Nature, vol. 447(7143), pages 425-432, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:447:y:2007:i:7143:d:10.1038_nature05918
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05918
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    Cited by:

    1. Manuel Belli & Paolo Rinaudo & Maria Grazia Palmerini & Elena Ruggeri & Sevastiani Antonouli & Stefania Annarita Nottola & Guido Macchiarelli, 2020. "Pre-Implantation Mouse Embryos Cultured In Vitro under Different Oxygen Concentrations Show Altered Ultrastructures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Carja, Oana & Liberman, Uri & Feldman, Marcus W., 2013. "Evolution with stochastic fitnesses: A role for recombination," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 29-42.
    3. Kyung-Shin Lee & Yoon-Jung Choi & Jin-Woo Cho & Sung-Ji Moon & Youn-Hee Lim & Johanna-Inhyang Kim & Young-Ah Lee & Choong-Ho Shin & Bung-Nyun Kim & Yun-Chul Hong, 2021. "Children’s Greenness Exposure and IQ-Associated DNA Methylation: A Prospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-16, July.
    4. Carlos Olmeda-Gómez & Carlos Romá-Mateo & Maria-Antonia Ovalle-Perandones, 2019. "Overview of trends in global epigenetic research (2009–2017)," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 119(3), pages 1545-1574, June.
    5. Amanda Rowlands & Emma C. Juergensen & Ana Paula Prescivalli & Katrina G. Salvante & Pablo A. Nepomnaschy, 2021. "Social and Biological Transgenerational Underpinnings of Adolescent Pregnancy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-19, November.
    6. Philipp Koellinger & Matthijs Loos & Patrick Groenen & A. Thurik & Fernando Rivadeneira & Frank Rooij & André Uitterlinden & Albert Hofman, 2010. "Genome-wide association studies in economics and entrepreneurship research: promises and limitations," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 1-18, July.
    7. Yu-Fang Huang & Chia-Huang Chang & Pei-Jung Chen & I-Hsuan Lin & Yen-An Tsai & Chian-Feng Chen & Yu-Chao Wang & Wei-Yun Huang & Ming-Song Tsai & Mei-Lien Chen, 2021. "Prenatal Bisphenol a Exposure, DNA Methylation, and Low Birth Weight: A Pilot Study in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-14, June.

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