Inheritance of epigenetic DNA marks studied in new mouse model

Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Transgenerational inheritance of acquired epigenetic signatures at CpG islands in mice

Yuta Takahashi et al.

Summary: Research demonstrates that DNA methylation can be transmitted from parents to offspring in mice, and this trans-generational inheritance can persist across multiple generations. This finding is significant in understanding trans-generational epigenetic inheritance in mammals and may have implications in evolutionary biology as well as the etiology, diagnosis, and prevention of non-genetically inherited human diseases.

CELL (2023)

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Review Genetics & Heredity

Molecular mechanisms of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance

Maximilian H. Fitz-James et al.

Summary: Increasing evidence suggests that non-DNA sequence-based epigenetic information can be inherited across generations in various organisms. Recent research has uncovered the signals and mechanisms underlying these epimutations, which vary among species and have a limited effect in mammals. However, common principles are emerging, with transmission occurring through direct replication or indirect reconstruction of the signals. This research improves our understanding of the contribution of DNA sequence and epigenetic variation to heritable phenotypic differences.

NATURE REVIEWS GENETICS (2022)

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Review Cell Biology

Roles of transposable elements in the regulation of mammalian transcription

Raquel Fueyo et al.

Summary: The regulatory sequences carried by transposable elements play a significant role in transcription regulation, affecting host gene expression through donation of enhancer and promoter sequences, modification of chromatin architecture, and generation of novel regulatory non-coding RNAs and transcription factors.

NATURE REVIEWS MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY (2022)

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Review Multidisciplinary Sciences