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Published on: March 25, 2016
The imprinted mouse Igf2r/Air cluster--a model maternal imprinting system
1CeMM-Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
Cytogenetic and Genome Research
|April 1, 2006
Summary
Mammalian imprinted genes are expressed based on parental origin, not sex bias. Two distinct imprinting systems, involving non-coding RNAs and chromatin, may have evolved, with the mouse Igf2r/Air cluster modeling the maternal system.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Epigenetics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Diploid organisms inherit chromosomes from both parents, typically expressing autosomal genes from both alleles.
- Imprinted genes, however, exhibit parent-specific expression, with only one allele (paternal or maternal) being active.
- This phenomenon suggests complex regulatory mechanisms governing gene expression based on parental origin.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the similarities and differences between mammalian paternal and maternal imprinting systems.
- To explore the roles of non-coding RNAs and chromatin modifications in genomic imprinting.
- To present the mouse Igf2r/Air cluster as a model for understanding maternal imprinting.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of known imprinted genes in mammals.
- Comparative analysis of paternal and maternal imprinting mechanisms.
- Case study of the Igf2r/Air cluster in mice to illustrate maternal imprinting.
Main Results:
- Currently, 73 imprinted genes are identified in mice, with a near-equal distribution between paternal (37) and maternal (36) expression.
- Evidence suggests the evolution of two distinct, parent-specific imprinting systems in mammals.
- Non-coding RNAs and chromatin modifications are key players in regulating imprinted gene expression.
Conclusions:
- Genomic imprinting in mammals involves at least two distinct systems, one acting through the paternal gamete and the other through the maternal gamete.
- Understanding these systems is crucial for comprehending gene regulation, development, and potential disease mechanisms.
- The Igf2r/Air cluster serves as a valuable model for dissecting the intricacies of maternal imprinting.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Imprinting
Behavioral imprinting is observed in some newborn animals and occurs when they develop strong and specific attachments to another animal (usually a parent) following brief, early-life exposures. Offspring imprint onto parents within a brief period after birth or hatching; this time window is called the critical period. Once imprinting occurs, the bond established between the parents and their offspring is usually long-lasting.
02:30Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance
Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...