title: Chromatin modification and epigenetic reprogramming in mammalian development.
abstract: The developmental programme of embryogenesis is controlled by both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. An emerging theme from recent studies is that the regulation of higher-order chromatin structures by DNA methylation and histone modification is crucial for genome reprogramming during early embryogenesis and gametogenesis, and for tissue-specific gene expression and global gene silencing. Disruptions to chromatin modification can lead to the dysregulation of developmental processes, such as X-chromosome inactivation and genomic imprinting, and to various diseases. Understanding the process of epigenetic reprogramming in development is important for studies of cloning and the clinical application of stem-cell therapy.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA. en@cvrc.mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: En
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000502:physiology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D008957:Models, Genetic; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000502:physiology; D014960:X Chromosome
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin