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Replication and translation of epigenetic information

Item Type:Review
Title:Replication and translation of epigenetic information
Creators Name:Brero, A. and Leonhardt, H. and Cardoso, M.C.
Abstract:Most cells in multicellular organisms contain identical genetic information but differ in their epigenetic information. The latter is encoded at the molecular level by post-replicative methylation of certain DNA bases (in mammals 5-methyl cytosine at CpG sites) and multiple histone modifications in chromatin. In addition, higher-order chromatin structures are generated during differentiation, which might impact on genome expression and stability. The epigenetic information needs to be "translated" in order to define specific cell types with specific sets of active and inactive genes, collectively called the epigenome. Once established, the epigenome needs to be "replicated" at each cell division cycle, i.e., both genetic and epigenetic information have to be faithfully duplicated, which implies a tight coordination between the DNA replication machinery and epigenetic regulators. In this review, we focus on the molecules and mechanisms responsible for the replication and translation of DNA methylation in mammals as one of the central epigenetic marks.
Keywords:Binding Sites, CpG Islands, DNA Methylation, DNA Replication, Genetic Epigenesis, Genetic Transcription, Mutation, Animals
Source:Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
Series Name:Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology ; 301
Title of Book:DNA Methylation: Basic Mechanisms
ISSN:0070-217X
ISBN:3-540-29114-8
Publisher:Springer Verlag Berlin
Volume:301
Page Range:21-44
Date:2006
Official Publication:https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31390-7_2
PubMed:View item in PubMed

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