Epigenetic Regulation in Health and Disease Flashcards
Heritable changes in gene function that occurs without a change in the DNA sequence
Epigenetics
What are some common modifications to the genome?
DNA methylation, Histone Modification, Non-coding RNA
All of the epigenetic phenomena are characterized by chemical modifications to
DNA itself (DNA Methylation), or to Histones (The proteins around which DNA is wound)
In humans, DNA methylation typically occurs at the
Cytosine bases of DNA within CpG dinucleotides
Associated with the 5’-end regulatory regions of almost all housekeeping genes, as well as with half of the tissue specific genes
CpG rich regions (“CpG Islands”)
When these promoter CpG Islands are methylated, the associated genes tend to be
Transcriptionally inactive
The correct expression of many tissue-specific, germline-specific, imprinted, and X-chromosome inactivated (in females) genes, as well as that of repetitive genomic sequences, relies largely on
DNA Methylation
Play key roles in the erasure, establishment, and maintenance of DNA methylation patterns through development
Epigenetic modifications
The extent of DNA methylation changes in an orchestrated way during mammalian development, starting with a
Wave of demethylation during cleavage
However, after implantation, there is
Genome-wide methlyation
An active process that strips the male genome of methylation within hours of fertilization
Demethylation
In contrast, the maternal genome is passively demethylated during subsequent
Cleavage divisions
The extent of methylation in the genome of gastrulating embryo is high, owing to de novo methylation, but it tends to decrease in specific tissues during
Differentiation
Occurs rarely after gastrulation, but this phenomenon is seen frequently in cancer
De novo Methylation
Which enzyme removes methyl groups?
Demethylase (dMTase)
Which enzyme adds methyl groups
DNA methyl transferase (DNMT)
Replication of somatic cells results in hemimethylated DNA, which is then fully methylated by
DNMT
Negatively regulates transcriptional output
Transcription factor binding to methylated DNA sequence motifs
DNA methylation is important in
- ) Regulation of gene expression (i.e. tissue specific transcription)
- ) Genomic imprinting
An autism spectrum disorder with a monogenic origin
Rett Syndrome
A progressive neurological disorder that is one of the most common causes of mental retardation in females
Rett syndrome
What type of trait is Rett Syndrome?
X-linked dominant
Children affected by Rett syndrome have a period of apparently normal development lasting
6-18 months
What is the cause of most cases of Rett Syndrome
MECP2 gene mutations
Capable of binding specifically to methylated DNA and represses transcription from methylated gene promoters
MECP2
MECP2 is ubiquitously present, but is most abundantly expressed in the
Brain
Los of function of MeCP2 in differentiated post-mitotic neurons likely results in the inappropriate overexpression of genes with potentially damaging effects during
Nervous system maturation
The unequal expression of the maternal or paternal alleles of a gene
Genomic Imprinting
The epigenetic tags on imprinted genes usually stay put for the life of the organism, but they are reset during
Egg and sperm formation (Thus why they are not passed to offspring)
Imprinted genes play vital roles in
- ) Embryonic growth
- ) Neonatal behavior
- ) Tissue or developmental stage-specific monoallelic expression patterns