Genomic imprinting-an epigenetic gene-regulatory model.
Epigenetic mechanisms (Box 1) are considered to play major gene-regulatory roles in development, differentiation and disease. However, the relative importance of epigenetics in defining the mammalian transcriptome in normal and disease states is unknown. The mammalian genome contains only a few model systems where epigenetic gene regulation has been shown to play a major role in transcriptional control. These model systems are important not only to investigate the biological function of known epigenetic modifications but also to identify new and unexpected epigenetic mechanisms in the mammalian genome. Here we review recent progress in understanding how epigenetic mechanisms control imprinted gene expression.
Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Austria.
Martha V
MV
Koerner
Denise P
DP
Barlow
D000818:Animals; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic