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Reduced PRC2 function alters male germline epigenetic programming and paternal inheritance
Jessica M Stringer1,2, Samuel C Forster3,4,5, Zhipeng Qu6
1Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.
BMC Biology
|September 22, 2018
Summary
Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) is crucial for transmitting epigenetic information from fathers to offspring. Impaired PRC2 function in male mice affects fertility and offspring development, impacting disease heredity.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics and Developmental Biology
- Reproductive Biology
- Genetics and Genomics
Background:
- Understanding epigenetic inheritance is key to deciphering disease heredity.
- Molecular mechanisms governing germline epigenetic regulation and transmission are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) in paternal epigenetic inheritance.
- To elucidate the molecular pathways involved in germline epigenetic transmission.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mouse models with reduced PRC2 function.
- Analyzed epigenetic and transcriptional control in male germ cells.
- Assessed offspring development, including retrotransposed element expression, cleavage rates, and cell cycle control.
Main Results:
- Reduced PRC2 function in male mice led to sub-fertility.
- Altered epigenetic and transcriptional control of retrotransposed elements was observed in foetal germ cells.
- Offspring exhibited over-expression of retrotransposed pseudogenes and abnormal preimplantation development.
Conclusions:
- Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) plays a significant role in paternal intergenerational epigenetic transmission.
- PRC2 influences the epigenetic control of retrotransposed elements during germline transmission.
- Findings have implications for understanding the inheritance of diseases influenced by epigenetic factors.
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