Chromatin Control of Developmental Dynamics and Plasticity.
Chromatin structure is intimately connected with gene expression and cell identity. Here we review recent advances in the field and discuss how establishment of cell identity during development is accompanied by large-scale remodeling of the epigenetic landscape and how this remodeling drives and supports lineage specification and maintenance. We discuss maternal control of the early embryonic epigenetic landscape, selective usage of enhancer clusters via 3D chromatin contacts leading to activation of transcription factor networks, and conserved regulation of developmental pathways by specific DNA demethylation of key regulatory regions. Together, these processes establish an epigenetic framework regulating different phases of embryonic development.
Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Developmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Matteo
M
Perino
Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Developmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: g.veenstra@science.ru.nl.
Gert Jan C
GJ
Veenstra
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D000066670:Cell Plasticity / Q000235:genetics; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics*; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics*; D057890:Epigenomics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
D002843:Chromatin