title: Bookmarking the genome: maintenance of epigenetic information.
abstract: Mitotic inheritance of gene function is obligatory to sustain biological control. Emerging evidence suggests that epigenetic mechanisms are linked to transmission of cell fate, lineage commitment, and maintenance of cellular phenotype in progeny cells. Mechanisms of epigenetic memory include gene silencing by DNA methylation, transcriptional regulation by histone modifications, regulation of gene expression by noncoding small RNA molecules, and retention of regulatory machinery on target gene loci for activation and repression. We will focus on the regulatory implications of epigenetic memory for physiological control and for the onset and progression of disease.
authors: Department of Cell Biology and Cancer Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655, USA.
authors: Sayyed K
authors: SK
authors: Zaidi
authors: Daniel W
authors: DW
authors: Young
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Montecino
authors: Andre J
authors: AJ
authors: van Wijnen
authors: Janet L
authors: JL
authors: Stein
authors: Jane B
authors: JB
authors: Lian
authors: Gary S
authors: GS
authors: Stein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000502:physiology*; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000502:physiology*; D015894:Genome, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D006657:Histones