title: Maternal control of genomic imprint maintenance.
abstract: Genomic imprinting is a specialized transcriptional phenomenon that employs epigenetic mechanisms to facilitate parental-specific expression. Perturbations in parental epigenetic asymmetry can lead to the development of imprinting disorders, such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and Angelman syndrome. DNA methylation is one of the most widely studied epigenetic marks that characterizes imprinted regions. During gametogenesis and early embryogenesis, imprinted methylation undergoes a cycle of erasure, acquisition and maintenance. Gamete and embryo manipulations for the purpose of assisted reproduction are performed during these reprogramming events and may lead to their disruption. Recent studies point to the role of maternal-effect proteins in imprinted gene regulation. Studies are now required to increase understanding of how these factors regulate genomic imprinting as well as how assisted reproduction technologies may alter their function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Western Ontario, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada N6C 2V5.
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Denomme
authors.forename: Mellissa R W
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D017204:Angelman Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D001506:Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D000076123:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D018392:Genomic Imprinting / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D023121:RNA, Messenger, Stored / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000076183:Tripartite Motif-Containing Protein 28
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D023121:RNA, Messenger, Stored; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C531063:ZFP57 protein, human; D000076123:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; C101116:TRIM28 protein, human; D000076183:Tripartite Motif-Containing Protein 28
keywords: DNA methylation; assisted reproduction technologies; genomic imprinting; maternal-effect genes; preimplantation development