ZFP57 and the Targeted Maintenance of Postfertilization Genomic Imprints.
Epigenetic modifications play an important role in modulating genome function. In mammals, inappropriate epigenetic states can cause embryonic lethality and various acquired and inherited diseases; hence, it is important to understand how such states are formed and maintained in particular genomic contexts. Genomic imprinting is a process in which epigenetic states provide a sustained memory of parental origin and cause gene expression/repression from only one of the two parental chromosomes. Genomic imprinting is therefore a valuable model to decipher the principles and processes associated with the targeting and maintenance of epigenetic states in general. Krüppel-associated box zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs) are proteins that have the potential to mediate this. ZFP57, one of the best characterized proteins in this family, has been shown to target and maintain epigenetic states at imprinting control regions after fertilization. Its role in imprinting through the use of ZFP57 mutants in mouse and the wider implications of KRAB-ZFPs for the targeted maintenance of epigenetic states are discussed here.
Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, United Kingdom.
Nozomi
N
Takahashi
Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, United Kingdom.
Dionne
D
Gray
Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, United Kingdom.
Ruslan
R
Strogantsev
Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, United Kingdom.
Angela
A
Noon
Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, United Kingdom.
Celia
C
Delahaye
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom.
William C
WC
Skarnes
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom.
Peri H
PH
Tate
Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, United Kingdom.
Anne C
AC
Ferguson-Smith
D000818:Animals; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D018392:Genomic Imprinting / Q000235:genetics*; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D051379:Mice; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C501529:Zfp-57 protein, mouse