Imprinted genes and regulation of gene expression by epigenetic inheritance

Six new imprinted genes have recently been identified by association with established imprinted regions, in systematic screens or by serendipity. This brings the total to seventeen imprinted genes, which display a wide variety of functions. Some imprinted genes have been shown to be both physically and mechanistically linked within domains that are under the control of an imprinting centre. Others may apparently undergo imprinting independently. Methylation is clearly required for maintenance of mono-allelic expression while chromatin structure and non-coding RNAs may also play a role.