Chapter 16 - Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes II: Epigenetics Flashcards
The study of mechanisms that lead to change in gene expression that are passed from cell to cell and are reversible but don not involve a change in the DNA sequence
Epigenetics
Examples of epigenetics
X-chromosome inactivation and genomic imprinting
Types of molecular changes that underlie epigenetic regulation
DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, histone modification, localization of histone variants, feedback loops
Epigenetic changes that are maintained at a specific site
Cis changes
Epigenetic changes that are maintained by diffusible factors
Trans changes
How can Cis and Trans changes be observed?
Cell fusion experiments
What are the two categories of epigenetic gene regulation?
Programmed developmental change and environmental agents of change
Regions of chromatin that are not stained during interphase, transcriptionally active, and occupy a central position in the nucleus
Euchromatin
Regions of chromatin that are stained throughout the cell cycle, have a high level of compaction, inhibit gene expression, and are localized along the periphery of the nucleus
Heterochromatin
Roles of heterochromatin
Gene silencing, prevention of transposable element movement, and prevention of viral proliferation
Heterochromatin that is heterochromatic at the same location in all cell types
Constitutive heterochromatin
Heterochromatin that is heterochromatic at varying locations among different cell types
Facultative heterochromatin
The addition of PTMs
Writer domains
The removal of PTMs
Eraser domains
Phases of formation of facultative and constitutive chromatin
Nucleation, spreading, and barrier