Chromatin mechanisms in the developmental control of imprinted gene expression

Hundreds of protein-coding genes and regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are subject to genomic imprinting. The mono-allelic DNA methylation marks that control imprinted gene expression are somatically maintained throughout development, and this process is linked to specific chromatin features. Yet,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology 2015-10, Vol.67, p.139-147
Main Authors: Sanli, Ildem, Feil, Robert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alleles
Animals
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology
Chromatin
Chromatin - chemistry
Chromatin - metabolism
Development
Development Biology
DNA Methylation
Epigenesis, Genetic
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Genetics
Genomic Imprinting
Histones - genetics
Histones - metabolism
Humans
Life Sciences
Mice
Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral - genetics
Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral - metabolism
Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral - pathology
Non-coding RNA
Organ Specificity
RNA, Untranslated - genetics
RNA, Untranslated - metabolism
Transcription, Genetic
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Summary:Hundreds of protein-coding genes and regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are subject to genomic imprinting. The mono-allelic DNA methylation marks that control imprinted gene expression are somatically maintained throughout development, and this process is linked to specific chromatin features. Yet, at many imprinted genes, the mono-allelic expression is lineage or tissue-specific. Recent studies provide mechanistic insights into the developmentally-restricted action of the ‘imprinting control regions’ (ICRs). At several imprinted domains, the ICR expresses a long ncRNA that mediates chromatin repression in cis (and probably in trans as well). ICRs at other imprinted domains mediate higher-order chromatin structuration that enhances, or prevents, transcription of close-by genes. Here, we present how chromatin and ncRNAs contribute to developmental control of imprinted gene expression and discuss implications for disease. This article is part of a Directed Issue entitled: Epigenetics dynamics in development and disease.
ISSN:1357-2725
1878-5875
DOI:10.1016/j.biocel.2015.04.004