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Related Concept Videos

Combinatorial Gene Control02:33

Combinatorial Gene Control

Combinatorial gene control is the synergistic action of several transcriptional factors to regulate the expression of a single gene. The absence of one or more of these factors may lead to a significant difference in the level of gene expression or repression.
The expression of more than 30,000 genes is controlled by approximately 2000-3000 transcription factors. This is possible because a single transcription factor can recognize more than one regulatory sequence. The specificity in gene...
Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming01:29

Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming

Reprogramming alters the gene expression in somatic cells, transforming them into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells over several generations. Scientists can reprogram cells by introducing genes for four transcription factors—Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM) by viral or non-viral methods. These factors are also known as Yamanaka factors after Shinya Yamanaka, who first generated iPS cells using mouse skin cells. Yamanaka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012 for this...
Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps01:23

Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps

The gene expression in cells is regulated at different stages: (i) transcription, (ii) RNA processing, (iii) RNA localization, and (iv) translation. Transcriptional regulation is mediated by regulatory proteins such as transcription factors, activators, or repressors—these control gene expression by initiating or inhibiting the transcription of genes. Once a precursor or pre-mRNA is produced, it undergoes post-transcriptional modification, including 5' capping, splicing, and the addition of a...

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Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers
10:28

Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers

Published on: September 20, 2018

Programming of gene expression by Polycomb group proteins.

Claudia Köhler1, Corina B R Villar

  • 1Institute of Plant Sciences and Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Center, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland. koehlerc@ethz.ch

Trends in Cell Biology
|April 1, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Polycomb group (PcG) complexes epigenetically repress genes. While PcG complexes are conserved across animals and plants, the mechanisms they use to maintain gene repression have evolved differently, reflecting distinct developmental strategies.

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A Method to Study de novo Formation of Chromatin Domains
07:34

A Method to Study de novo Formation of Chromatin Domains

Published on: August 23, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Epigenetics
  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Polycomb group (PcG) complexes are crucial for maintaining epigenetic repression.
  • Cell differentiation requires reprogramming of these repressed states.
  • Previously, PcG targets were thought to be few, but recent studies reveal hundreds across diverse species.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the conserved and divergent mechanisms of PcG complex function in gene regulation.
  • To understand how PcG complexes are recruited and function on chromatin.
  • To compare PcG-mediated repression strategies in animals and plants.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics and epigenomics across different kingdoms.
  • Histone modification analysis, focusing on H3K27 methylation.
  • Biochemical assays to identify proteins interacting with PcG targets.

Main Results:

  • PcG complexes are conserved and mark target genes with histone H3 lysine 27 methylation in both animals and plants.
  • Despite the conserved mark, the proteins recognizing H3K27me3 and the downstream repression mechanisms differ significantly between animals and plants.
  • Hundreds of PcG targets have been identified, expanding the known regulatory roles of these complexes.

Conclusions:

  • The conserved H3K27 methylation mark by PcG complexes suggests an ancient role in epigenetic regulation.
  • Divergent recognition and repression mechanisms highlight distinct evolutionary paths in plant and animal development.
  • Understanding these differences provides insight into the adaptability of epigenetic machinery for diverse developmental processes.