Epigenetics 1 Flashcards
When did the Dutch famine occur?
1944-1945
What was the epigenetic consequence of the Dutch famine?
The IGF2 promoter of children conceived in this period was hyper-methylated. This resulted in slower metabolic rate, leading to obesity and cardiovascular disease.
When was the Canadian Ice Storm and what was its epigenetic consequences?
1998 - higher stress levels in pregnant woman resulted in epigenetic changes in children associated with learning/behavioural difficulties.
Where does nearly all DNA methylation occur?
On cytosine bases of CpG islands.
What can methylation of CpG islands cause?
Silencing of nearby genes, genetic imprinting, X inactivation and transposable element silencing.
In cancer, which genes tend to be hypomethylated and which genes tend to be hypermethylated?
Hypomethylated - oncogenes, TEs, viral genes (aberrant expression)
Hypermethylated - tumour suppressors (silencing)
What can be recruited by methylation of CpG islands?
Proteins with MBD - for example HDAC, which tightens DNA.
What can MBD binding result in?
Prevention of TF binding.
Why is p53 not often mutated in liver carcinomas?
Because the promoter is hypermethylated.
How can methylated cytosines be identified?
Treat DNA with Bisulphite, which converts non-methylated cytosines to uracil. Any cytosines remaining will be those that are methylated.
Describe the structure of a nucleosome.
(H2A, H2B, H3, H4) x 2 = 8 subunits
How many base pairs of DNA are wrapped around a nucleosome?
~170bp of DNA
What PTMs can be added to histones?
Lysine acetylation/ubiquitination/sumoylation
Lysine/arginine methylation
Serine/threonine phosphorylation
What is ‘histone modification cross talk’?
This is when one PTM on a histone promotes/represses the modification of another histone site.
What are the activating modifications of H3?
Acetylation of H3K9 and H3K27.
Methylation of H3K4.