Transgenerational Inheritance of Environmentally Induced Epigenetic Alterations during Mammalian Development
Louis Legoff1, Shereen Cynthia D'Cruz1, Sergei Tevosian2
1Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France.
Cells
|December 11, 2019
Summary
Environmentally induced epigenetic changes can be passed across generations through gametes. These transgenerational epigenetic inheritance mechanisms, involving DNA methylation and histone modifications, impact offspring phenotypes and disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics and Genomics
- Developmental Biology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Traditional genetics focuses on DNA sequence for inheritance.
- Epigenetic inheritance, independent of DNA sequence, is increasingly recognized.
- Environmental factors can influence heritable traits beyond DNA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on transgenerational inheritance of environmentally induced epigenetic changes.
- To focus on gamete-based epigenetic inheritance mechanisms.
- To highlight the role of environmental factors in modulating epigenetic inheritance.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature, primarily focusing on rodent studies.
- Analysis of studies investigating DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs in gametes.
- Examination of environmental influences on epigenetic modifications in germlines.
Main Results:
- Environmental factors can induce parental epigenetic alterations affecting offspring phenotypes.
- Gamete-based epigenetic inheritance involves DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs.
- Chromatin protein modification and redistribution in gametes are key transmission routes.
Conclusions:
- Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance through gametes is modulated by environmental factors.
- Epigenetic factors transmitted via gametes influence offspring fitness and germline fidelity.
- Epigenetic heritability must be considered in disease risk assessment.
Related Concept Videos
01:37Epigenetic Regulation
3.7K
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...
X-chromosome...
3.7K
01:46Epigenetic Regulation
33.3K
Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
33.3K
02:30Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance
36.6K
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...
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
36.6K
03:17Inheritance of Chromatin Structures
7.2K
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...
7.2K
01:20Gene-Environment Interactions
1.0K
Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
1.0K
01:35Mutations
42.6K
Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
42.6K