title: Chromatin mechanisms in the developmental control of imprinted gene expression.
abstract: Hundreds of protein-coding genes and regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are subject to genomic imprinting. The mono-allelic DNA methylation marks that control imprinted gene expression are somatically maintained throughout development, and this process is linked to specific chromatin features. Yet, at many imprinted genes, the mono-allelic expression is lineage or tissue-specific. Recent studies provide mechanistic insights into the developmentally-restricted action of the 'imprinting control regions' (ICRs). At several imprinted domains, the ICR expresses a long ncRNA that mediates chromatin repression in cis (and probably in trans as well). ICRs at other imprinted domains mediate higher-order chromatin structuration that enhances, or prevents, transcription of close-by genes. Here, we present how chromatin and ncRNAs contribute to developmental control of imprinted gene expression and discuss implications for disease. This article is part of a Directed Issue entitled: Epigenetics dynamics in development and disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Genetics (IGMM), UMR-5535, CNRS, University of Montpellier, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Ildem
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sanli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Genetics (IGMM), UMR-5535, CNRS, University of Montpellier, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier, France. Electronic address: robert.feil@igmm.cnrs.fr.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feil
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D020391:Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones; D022661:RNA, Untranslated
keywords: Chromatin; DNA methylation; Development; Genomic imprinting; Non-coding RNA