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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

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Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers
Published on: September 20, 2018
Genomic imprinting-an epigenetic gene-regulatory model
Martha V Koerner1, Denise P Barlow
1Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Austria.
Current Opinion in Genetics & Development
|February 16, 2010
Summary
Epigenetic mechanisms regulate gene expression in development and disease. This review explores their role in the mammalian transcriptome and imprinted gene expression.
Area of Science:
- Genetics and Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
- Mammalian Genomics
Background:
- Epigenetic mechanisms are crucial for gene regulation in development, differentiation, and disease.
- The precise role of epigenetics in shaping the mammalian transcriptome, particularly in disease states, remains largely unknown.
- Limited model systems exist to study epigenetic gene regulation in mammals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in understanding epigenetic mechanisms.
- To highlight their role in controlling gene expression.
- To discuss their importance in imprinted gene expression.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent progress in epigenetics.
- Analysis of epigenetic mechanisms in mammalian gene regulation.
- Focus on imprinted gene expression studies.
Main Results:
- Epigenetic mechanisms play significant gene-regulatory roles.
- Model systems are vital for investigating known and novel epigenetic mechanisms.
- Progress has been made in understanding epigenetic control of imprinted genes.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic mechanisms are fundamental to mammalian gene regulation.
- Further research in model systems is needed to fully elucidate epigenetic functions.
- Understanding epigenetic control of imprinted genes is advancing.
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