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Epigenetic Regulation of Cardiac Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells and Tissues
Published on: June 3, 2016
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Locus- and cell type-specific epigenetic switching during cellular differentiation in mammals
Ying-Tao Zhao1, Maria Fasolino1, Zhaolan Zhou1
1Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Frontiers in Biology
|March 7, 2017
Summary
During cellular differentiation, the epigenome (DNA methylation and histone modifications) reconfigures in specific ways. This epigenetic switching allows for flexible gene regulation in somatic cells compared to embryonic stem cells.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics
- Developmental Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Cellular differentiation involves significant epigenomic changes.
- The precise nature and interplay of these epigenetic modifications during differentiation are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically compare epigenomic profiles (DNA methylation, histone modifications) and transcriptomes during cellular differentiation.
- To elucidate the extent and specificity of epigenomic reconfiguration.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of DNA methylation, histone modification, and transcriptome data.
- Utilized human and mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and differentiated somatic cells.
Main Results:
- Somatic cells exhibit lower global DNA methylation than ESCs.
- Significant cell type-specific alterations in histone modification patterns (80%) and DNA methylation (70%) were observed.
- Loss of DNA methylation correlated with gain of specific histone modifications, indicating locus- and cell type-specific interplay.
- Identified epigenetic switching at promoters: stable silencing in ESCs transitions to flexible repression in somatic cells.
Conclusions:
- Epigenome reconfiguration is locus- and cell type-specific during differentiation.
- Epigenetic switching is a common mechanism for gene regulation in both human and mouse cellular differentiation.
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