Page 49 - PCC08

Epigenetics in Reproduction
• Epigenetics is the heritable and reversible chromatin modifications (i.e./ DNA methylation) that alter the accessibility of genes and regulate gene expression (Jaenisch & Bird 2003).
• Epigenetic changes allow cells to maintain differential expression despite containing the same genomic material (Herrera et. al. 2008).
• Gametogenesis and early embryogenesis are important stages in which genome‐wide epigenetic transitions required for early mammalian development are orchestrated (Rodenhiser & Mann 2006).
5
DNA Methylation
Me
Methylation CpG GpC
Me
• DNA methylation is essential for normal embryonic development.
• DNA methylation is generally associated with repression of transcription by either preventing the binding of transcriptional proteins to a gene, or by recruiting additional proteins to remodel the chromatin.
H3 H4
H2 A
DNA Methylation
H2B
Page 43 of 102
6
PRECONGRESS COURSE 08 I BARCELONA, SPAIN – 1 JULY 2018 49