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Updated: May 28, 2026
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Profiling DNA Replication Timing Using Zebrafish as an In Vivo Model System
Published on: April 30, 2018
DNA Methylation Dynamics in Development and Disease: Insights from Zebrafish Models
Gan-Qiang Lai1, Yan Yan1, Mohini Sengupta2
1Edward A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
Biomedicines
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Zebrafish models offer unique insights into DNA methylation, a key epigenetic process crucial for development and disease. Studying DNA methylation dynamics in zebrafish aids in understanding human diseases and discovering new therapies.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics and Developmental Biology
- Comparative Genomics
- Disease Modeling
Background:
- DNA methylation is vital for gene expression, genome stability, and cell identity during vertebrate development.
- Aberrant DNA methylation is linked to human diseases like cancer and developmental disorders.
- Understanding DNA methylation dynamics is critical for disease mechanism elucidation and therapeutic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of the zebrafish methylome and its regulatory enzymes.
- To discuss the role of DNA methylation in early development, organogenesis, and cell fate decisions using zebrafish.
- To highlight insights from zebrafish disease models and emerging technologies for epigenetic research.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on zebrafish DNA methylation.
- Analysis of conserved epigenetic machinery (DNMTs, TETs) between zebrafish and humans.
- Examination of zebrafish as a model for studying in vivo epigenetic processes.
Main Results:
- Zebrafish possess conserved DNA methylation machinery (DNMTs, TETs) and exhibit dynamic methylation patterns crucial for development.
- Zebrafish models provide valuable insights into how DNA methylation influences embryonic development and organogenesis.
- Studies in zebrafish have illuminated disease mechanisms related to epigenetic dysregulation.
Conclusions:
- Zebrafish are a powerful vertebrate model for studying DNA methylation dynamics in vivo due to their developmental advantages.
- Research in zebrafish contributes significantly to understanding the link between developmental epigenetics and human disease.
- Emerging technologies in zebrafish research promise more precise interrogation of epigenetic regulation for therapeutic discovery.
