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Related Concept Videos

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.
Inheritance of Chromatin Structures03:17

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

Epigenetics is the study of inherited changes in a cell's phenotype without changing the DNA sequences. It provides a form of memory for the differential gene expression pattern to maintain cell lineage, position-effect variegation, dosage compensation, and maintenance of chromatin structures such as telomeres and centromeres. For example, the structure and location of the centromere on chromosomes are epigenetically inherited. Its functionality is not dictated or ensured by the underlying DNA...
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PIWI-interacting RNAs, or piRNAs, are the most abundant short non-coding RNAs. More than 20,000 genes have been found in humans that code for piRNAs while only 2000 genes have been found for miRNAs. piRNAs can act at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and have a vital role in silencing transposable elements present in germ cells. They are also involved in epigenetic silencing and activation. Previously, they were thought to function only in germ cells but new evidence suggests...
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Genomic 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...

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Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers
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A major epigenetic programming mechanism guided by piRNAs.

Xiao A Huang1, Hang Yin, Sarah Sweeney

  • 1Yale Stem Cell Center and Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA.

Developmental Cell
|February 26, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Small RNAs called piRNAs guide epigenetic factors to specific DNA sites in Drosophila. This piRNA-guided mechanism is essential for epigenetic programming and genome regulation.

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Area of Science:

  • Epigenetics
  • Genomics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Epigenetic factors require specific genomic targeting for function.
  • Piwi-piRNA complexes were previously shown to associate with piRNA-complementary sites in Drosophila.
  • The precise mechanism guiding these complexes remained largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of piRNAs in guiding Piwi and associated epigenetic factors to specific genomic locations.
  • To determine if piRNAs are sufficient to recruit epigenetic machinery to ectopic sites.
  • To elucidate the broader role of the Piwi-piRNA complex in epigenetic programming.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Piwi-piRNA complex binding sites across the Drosophila genome.
  • Insertion of piRNA-complementary sequences into ectopic genomic locations.
  • Assessment of epigenetic modifications (H3K9me2/3) and protein recruitment (Piwi, HP1a, Su(var)3-9) at targeted sites.
  • Evaluation of RNA polymerase II association and genome-wide epigenetic landscape changes in Piwi-deficient Drosophila.

Main Results:

  • Piwi-piRNA complexes bind to numerous piRNA-complementary sequences genome-wide.
  • Ectopic piRNA-complementary sequences successfully recruited Piwi, HP1a, and Su(var)3-9, leading to H3K9me2/3 enrichment and reduced RNA polymerase II.
  • Piwi deficiency caused significant alterations in the genome-wide epigenetic landscape and RNA polymerase II profile.

Conclusions:

  • piRNAs are a primary mechanism for guiding Piwi and epigenetic factors to program the genome.
  • piRNA sequences are both necessary and sufficient for recruiting epigenetic factors to specific genomic sites.
  • The Piwi-piRNA pathway represents a major epigenetic programming mechanism in Drosophila.