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Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic Regulation

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

Epigenetic Regulation

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 Regulation

Epigenetic Regulation

Overview of Lipid Metabolism

Overview of Lipid Metabolism

Lipid metabolism is a crucial process in the human body that involves the synthesis and degradation of lipids. This process is essential for energy production, cell membrane formation, and hormone production, among other functions.
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...

Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance

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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 14, 2026

Sample Preparation to Bioinformatics Analysis of DNA Methylation: Association Strategy for Obesity and Related Trait Studies

Sample Preparation to Bioinformatics Analysis of DNA Methylation: Association Strategy for Obesity and Related Trait Studies

Published on: May 6, 2022

Lipid metabolism is associated with developmental epigenetic programming.

Elizabeth H Marchlewicz¹, Dana C Dolinoy^1,2,3, Lu Tang⁴

¹Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA.

Scientific Reports

|October 8, 2016

Summary

Maternal metabolites, like fatty acids and histidine, are stable during pregnancy and link to infant DNA methylation. This suggests lipids influence fetal epigenetic programming, potentially affecting lifelong health.

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Stable Isotope In-Vivo Labeling for Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Paternal Metabolites Transferred from Sperm to Oocyte During Fertilization

Stable Isotope In-Vivo Labeling for Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Paternal Metabolites Transferred from Sperm to Oocyte During Fertilization

Published on: June 17, 2025

Area of Science:

Reproductive biology
Metabolomics
Epigenetics

Background:

Maternal diet and metabolism significantly influence fetal development.
Epigenetic reprogramming is a key mechanism for fetal adaptation to in utero environments.
Understanding the maternal-fetal metabolic-epigenetic link is crucial for developmental health.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the association between maternal metabolite levels and infant DNA methylation.
To determine if specific maternal metabolites correlate with global and gene-specific DNA methylation in newborns.
To explore the stability and correlation of maternal metabolites throughout pregnancy.

Main Methods:

Analysis of a clinical birth cohort of 40 mother-infant dyads.
Targeted metabolomics on maternal plasma (1st trimester and delivery) and infant cord blood plasma.
Quantitative DNA methylation analysis in maternal and infant plasma samples.

Main Results:

Very long chain fatty acids, medium chain acylcarnitines, and histidine were stable in maternal plasma and correlated across maternal and infant samples.
These metabolites were among the top maternal factors associated with infant DNA methylation.
Global DNA methylation showed high correlation across maternal and infant samples.

Conclusions:

Circulating maternal lipids and certain metabolites are tightly controlled and associated with infant DNA methylation patterns.
Maternal metabolic profiles may play a role in developmental epigenetic programming.
Further research is needed to establish a causal relationship between maternal plasma lipids and infant epigenetic programming.