New insights on the role of DNA methylation from a global view.
In mammals, DNA methylation is a crucial epigenetic modification with key functions during development. Cellular processes that are regulated by DNA methylation comprise X chromosome inactivation, gene imprinting, genomic stability and transcriptional regulation. Generally, the methylation status of the majority of target sites is reliably propagated during mitosis. However, advances in genome-wide DNA methylation analysis at base-resolution have discovered a substantial amount of differential DNA methylation between normal cells of different tissue-origin. Moreover, aberrant DNA methylation changes are linked with a significant number of human diseases, particularly with cancer. Sites of differential and aberrant DNA methylation include regulatory DNA sequences, such as CpG islands in promoters and distalcis-regulatory elements, like enhancers. In this review, we will discuss novel aspects of DNA methylation dynamics, during normal development and in association with diseases.
Instituto de Fisiologia Celular, Departamento de Genetica Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Circuito Exterior S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacan, Ciudad de Mexico, 04510, Mexico.
Karin
K
Meier
Departamento de Genetica Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Circuito Exterior S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacan, Mexico D.F. 04510, Mexico, frecilla@ifc.unam.mx.
Félix
F
Recillas-Targa
D000818:Animals; D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D014157:Transcription Factors