Epigenetic reprogramming in mammals
Laboratory of Developmental Genetics and Imprinting, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB2 4AT, UK
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel:+44 1223496338; Fax:+44 1223496022; Email: wolf.reik{at}bbsrc.ac.uk
Received January 21, 2005; Revised February 10, 2005; Accepted February 17, 2005
Epigenetic marking systems confer stability of gene expression during mammalian development. Genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming occurs at stages when developmental potency of cells changes. At fertilization, the paternal genome exchanges protamines for histones, undergoes DNA demethylation, and acquires histone modifications, whereas the maternal genome appears epigenetically more static. During preimplantation development, there is passive DNA demethylation and further reorganization of histone modifications. In blastocysts, embryonic and extraembryonic lineages first show different epigenetic marks. This epigenetic reprogramming is likely to be needed for totipotency, correct initiation of embryonic gene expression, and early lineage development in the embryo. Comparative work demonstrates reprogramming in all mammalian species analysed, but the extent and timing varies, consistent with notable differences between species during preimplantation development. Parental imprinting marks originate in sperm and oocytes and are generally protected from this genome-wide reprogramming. Early primordial germ cells possess imprinting marks similar to those of somatic cells. However, rapid DNA demethylation after midgestation erases these parental imprints, in preparation for sex-specific de novo methylation during gametogenesis. Aberrant reprogramming of somatic epigenetic marks after somatic cell nuclear transfer leads to epigenetic defects in cloned embryos and stem cells. Links between epigenetic marking systems appear to be developmentally regulated contributing to plasticity. A number of activities that confer epigenetic marks are firmly established, while for those that remove marks, particularly methylation, some interesting candidates have emerged recently which need thorough testing in vivo. A mechanistic understanding of reprogramming will be crucial for medical applications of stem cell technology.
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
B. M. Turner Epigenetic responses to environmental change and their evolutionary implications Phil Trans R Soc B, November 27, 2009; 364(1534): 3403 - 3418. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. W. Tobi, L.H. Lumey, R. P. Talens, D. Kremer, H. Putter, A. D. Stein, P. E. Slagboom, and B. T. Heijmans DNA methylation differences after exposure to prenatal famine are common and timing- and sex-specific Hum. Mol. Genet., November 1, 2009; 18(21): 4046 - 4053. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. S. Bartolomei Genomic imprinting: employing and avoiding epigenetic processes Genes & Dev., September 15, 2009; 23(18): 2124 - 2133. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
H. Matsuzaki, E. Okamura, M. Shimotsuma, A. Fukamizu, and K. Tanimoto A Randomly Integrated Transgenic H19 Imprinting Control Region Acquires Methylation Imprinting Independently of Its Establishment in Germ Cells Mol. Cell. Biol., September 1, 2009; 29(17): 4595 - 4603. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M.V. Gomes, J. Huber, R.A. Ferriani, A.M. Amaral Neto, and E.S. Ramos Abnormal methylation at the KvDMR1 imprinting control region in clinically normal children conceived by assisted reproductive technologies Mol. Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2009; 15(8): 471 - 477. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
U. Zechner, J. Nolte, M. Wolf, K. Shirneshan, N. E. Hajj, D. Weise, B. Kaltwasser, A. Zovoilis, T. Haaf, and W. Engel Comparative methylation profiles and telomerase biology of mouse multipotent adult germline stem cells and embryonic stem cells Mol. Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2009; 15(6): 345 - 353. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. L. Brunner, D. S. Johnson, S. W. Kim, A. Valouev, T. E. Reddy, N. F. Neff, E. Anton, C. Medina, L. Nguyen, E. Chiao, et al. Distinct DNA methylation patterns characterize differentiated human embryonic stem cells and developing human fetal liver Genome Res., June 1, 2009; 19(6): 1044 - 1056. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Miyamoto, T. Tsukiyama, Y. Yang, N. Li, N. Minami, M. Yamada, and H. Imai Cell-Free Extracts from Mammalian Oocytes Partially Induce Nuclear Reprogramming in Somatic Cells Biol Reprod, May 1, 2009; 80(5): 935 - 943. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. Muhonen and H. Holthofer Epigenetic and microRNA-mediated regulation in diabetes Nephrol. Dial. Transplant., April 1, 2009; 24(4): 1088 - 1096. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
G. Cauffman, M. De Rycke, K. Sermon, I. Liebaers, and H. Van de Velde Markers that define stemness in ESC are unable to identify the totipotent cells in human preimplantation embryos Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2009; 24(1): 63 - 70. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. E. Bell, M. D. Calder, and A. J. Watson Genomic RNA profiling and the programme controlling preimplantation mammalian development Mol. Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2008; 14(12): 691 - 701. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Y.-G. Hu, R. Hirasawa, J.-L. Hu, K. Hata, C.-L. Li, Y. Jin, T. Chen, E. Li, M. Rigolet, E. Viegas-Pequignot, et al. Regulation of DNA methylation activity through Dnmt3L promoter methylation by Dnmt3 enzymes in embryonic development Hum. Mol. Genet., September 1, 2008; 17(17): 2654 - 2664. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. B. Samollow The opossum genome: Insights and opportunities from an alternative mammal Genome Res., August 1, 2008; 18(8): 1199 - 1215. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
N. M Zamudio, S. Chong, and M. K O'Bryan Epigenetic regulation in male germ cells Reproduction, August 1, 2008; 136(2): 131 - 146. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. D. Gluckman, M. A. Hanson, C. Cooper, and K. L. Thornburg Effect of In Utero and Early-Life Conditions on Adult Health and Disease N. Engl. J. Med., July 3, 2008; 359(1): 61 - 73. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Strathdee, C. B. A. Whitelaw, and A. J. Clark Distal Transgene Insertion Affects CpG Island Maintenance during Differentiation J. Biol. Chem., April 25, 2008; 283(17): 11509 - 11515. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
H. Fulka, I. Barnetova, T. Mosko, and J. Fulka Epigenetic analysis of human spermatozoa after their injection into ovulated mouse oocytes Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2008; 23(3): 627 - 634. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Reinders, C. Delucinge Vivier, G. Theiler, D. Chollet, P. Descombes, and J. Paszkowski Genome-wide, high-resolution DNA methylation profiling using bisulfite-mediated cytosine conversion Genome Res., March 1, 2008; 18(3): 469 - 476. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Yamagata Capturing Epigenetic Dynamics During Pre-implantation Development Using Live Cell Imaging J. Biochem., March 1, 2008; 143(3): 279 - 286. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Ooga, A. Inoue, S.-i. Kageyama, T. Akiyama, M. Nagata, and F. Aoki Changes in H3K79 Methylation During Preimplantation Development in Mice Biol Reprod, March 1, 2008; 78(3): 413 - 424. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
V. Duranthon, A. J Watson, and P. Lonergan Preimplantation embryo programming: transcription, epigenetics, and culture environment Reproduction, February 1, 2008; 135(2): 141 - 150. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. D. Sinclair, C. Allegrucci, R. Singh, D. S. Gardner, S. Sebastian, J. Bispham, A. Thurston, J. F. Huntley, W. D. Rees, C. A. Maloney, et al. DNA methylation, insulin resistance, and blood pressure in offspring determined by maternal periconceptional B vitamin and methionine status PNAS, December 4, 2007; 104(49): 19351 - 19356. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Schneider and R. Grosschedl Dynamics and interplay of nuclear architecture, genome organization, and gene expression Genes & Dev., December 1, 2007; 21(23): 3027 - 3043. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K.-P. Kim, A. Thurston, C. Mummery, D. Ward-van Oostwaard, H. Priddle, C. Allegrucci, C. Denning, and L. Young Gene-specific vulnerability to imprinting variability in human embryonic stem cell lines Genome Res., December 1, 2007; 17(12): 1731 - 1742. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Wiznerowicz, J. Jakobsson, J. Szulc, S. Liao, A. Quazzola, F. Beermann, P. Aebischer, and D. Trono The Kruppel-associated Box Repressor Domain Can Trigger de Novo Promoter Methylation during Mouse Early Embryogenesis J. Biol. Chem., November 23, 2007; 282(47): 34535 - 34541. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
H. Kobayashi, A. Sato, E. Otsu, H. Hiura, C. Tomatsu, T. Utsunomiya, H. Sasaki, N. Yaegashi, and T. Arima Aberrant DNA methylation of imprinted loci in sperm from oligospermic patients Hum. Mol. Genet., November 1, 2007; 16(21): 2542 - 2551. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. W. Coolen, A. L. Statham, M. Gardiner-Garden, and S. J. Clark Genomic profiling of CpG methylation and allelic specificity using quantitative high-throughput mass spectrometry: critical evaluation and improvements Nucleic Acids Res., September 25, 2007; 35(18): e119 - e119. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Penterman, D. Zilberman, J. H. Huh, T. Ballinger, S. Henikoff, and R. L. Fischer DNA demethylation in the Arabidopsis genome PNAS, April 17, 2007; 104(16): 6752 - 6757. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. J. Clark Action at a distance: epigenetic silencing of large chromosomal regions in carcinogenesis Hum. Mol. Genet., April 15, 2007; 16(R1): R88 - R95. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
W. P. Robinson, J. L. Lauzon, A.M. Innes, K. Lim, S. Arsovska, and D. E. McFadden Origin and outcome of pregnancies affected by androgenetic/biparental chimerism Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2007; 22(4): 1114 - 1122. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. T. Heijmans, D. Kremer, E. W. Tobi, D. I. Boomsma, and P. E. Slagboom Heritable rather than age-related environmental and stochastic factors dominate variation in DNA methylation of the human IGF2/H19 locus Hum. Mol. Genet., March 1, 2007; 16(5): 547 - 554. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. McGraw, C. Vigneault, and M.-A. Sirard Temporal expression of factors involved in chromatin remodeling and in gene regulation during early bovine in vitro embryo development Reproduction, March 1, 2007; 133(3): 597 - 608. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. P. Hitchins, J. J.L. Wong, G. Suthers, C. M. Suter, D. I.K. Martin, N. J. Hawkins, and R. L. Ward Inheritance of a Cancer-Associated MLH1 Germ-Line Epimutation N. Engl. J. Med., February 15, 2007; 356(7): 697 - 705. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Rai, S. Chidester, C. V. Zavala, E. J. Manos, S. R. James, A. R. Karpf, D. A. Jones, and B. R. Cairns Dnmt2 functions in the cytoplasm to promote liver, brain, and retina development in zebrafish Genes & Dev., February 1, 2007; 21(3): 261 - 266. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. Geuns, P. Hilven, A. Van Steirteghem, I. Liebaers, and M. De Rycke Methylation analysis of KvDMR1 in human oocytes J. Med. Genet., February 1, 2007; 44(2): 144 - 147. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. T. Ryan and T. Sweeney Integrating Molecular Biology into the Veterinary Curriculum J Vet Med Educ, January 1, 2007; 34(5): 658 - 673. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. E. Cropley, C. M. Suter, K. B. Beckman, and D. I. K. Martin From The Cover: Germ-line epigenetic modification of the murine Avy allele by nutritional supplementation PNAS, November 14, 2006; 103(46): 17308 - 17312. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. A. Cooney Germ cells carry the epigenetic benefits of grandmother's diet PNAS, November 14, 2006; 103(46): 17071 - 17072. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
N. C. Whitelaw and E. Whitelaw How lifetimes shape epigenotype within and across generations Hum. Mol. Genet., October 15, 2006; 15(suppl_2): R131 - R137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Rai, L. D. Nadauld, S. Chidester, E. J. Manos, S. R. James, A. R. Karpf, B. R. Cairns, and D. A. Jones Zebra Fish Dnmt1 and Suv39h1 Regulate Organ-Specific Terminal Differentiation during Development. Mol. Cell. Biol., October 1, 2006; 26(19): 7077 - 7085. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. P. Tan and S. Nakielny Control of the DNA Methylation System Component MBD2 by Protein Arginine Methylation. Mol. Cell. Biol., October 1, 2006; 26(19): 7224 - 7235. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Casadesus and D. Low Epigenetic Gene Regulation in the Bacterial World Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev., September 1, 2006; 70(3): 830 - 856. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Bibikova, E. Chudin, B. Wu, L. Zhou, E. W. Garcia, Y. Liu, S. Shin, T. W. Plaia, J. M. Auerbach, D. E. Arking, et al. Human embryonic stem cells have a unique epigenetic signature Genome Res., September 1, 2006; 16(9): 1075 - 1083. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Majumder, K. Ghoshal, J. Datta, D. S. Smith, S. Bai, and S. T. Jacob Role of DNA Methyltransferases in Regulation of Human Ribosomal RNA Gene Transcription J. Biol. Chem., August 4, 2006; 281(31): 22062 - 22072. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Koslowski, U. Sahin, C. Huber, and O. Tureci The human X chromosome is enriched for germline genes expressed in premeiotic germ cells of both sexes Hum. Mol. Genet., August 1, 2006; 15(15): 2392 - 2399. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. E. Torres-Padilla and M. Zernicka-Goetz Role of TIF1{alpha} as a modulator of embryonic transcription in the mouse zygote J. Cell Biol., July 31, 2006; 174(3): 329 - 338. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Hiendleder, M. Wirtz, C. Mund, M. Klempt, H.-D. Reichenbach, M. Stojkovic, M. Weppert, H. Wenigerkind, M. Elmlinger, F. Lyko, et al. Tissue-Specific Effects of In Vitro Fertilization Procedures on Genomic Cytosine Methylation Levels in Overgrown and Normal Sized Bovine Fetuses Biol Reprod, July 1, 2006; 75(1): 17 - 23. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Teupser, M. Tan, A. D. Persky, and J. L. Breslow Atherosclerosis quantitative trait loci are sex- and lineage-dependent in an intercross of C57BL/6 and FVB/N low-density lipoprotein receptor-/- mice PNAS, January 3, 2006; 103(1): 123 - 128. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. W. Sun, A. C. Yang, Y. Feng, Y. J. Sun, Y. f. Zhu, Y. Zhang, H. Jiang, C. L. Li, F. R. Gao, Z. H. Zhang, et al. Temporal and parental-specific expression of imprinted genes in a newly derived Chinese human embryonic stem cell line and embryoid bodies Hum. Mol. Genet., January 1, 2006; 15(1): 65 - 75. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||


















