What is the Epigenetic influences on gene expression?

Introduction

Epigenetics refers to heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence. These changes are crucial for various biological processes, including development, differentiation, and disease manifestation. Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and RNA-mediated processes play significant roles in regulating gene expression.

Key Insights

DNA Methylation and Gene Expression:
- DNA methylation typically represses gene expression by adding methyl groups to DNA, which can inhibit transcription .
Histone Modifications:
- Modifications to histone proteins, such as acetylation and methylation, can either activate or repress gene expression by altering chromatin structure and accessibility .
RNA-Mediated Processes:
- Noncoding RNAs, including microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs, can regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by degrading mRNA or inhibiting translation .
Chromatin Structure and Gene Regulation:
- Changes in chromatin structure, such as the formation of euchromatin (active) or heterochromatin (inactive), are central to epigenetic regulation and can influence gene expression across various organisms .
Environmental Influences:
- Environmental factors, including diet, stress, and exposure to toxins, can lead to epigenetic changes that affect gene expression and may have long-term health implications .
Epigenetic Variability and Disease:
- Epigenetic modifications are associated with the development and progression of diseases, including cancer, lung diseases, and other chronic conditions. These modifications can serve as potential targets for therapeutic interventions .
Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance:
- While the environment can influence gene expression, the extent to which these changes are inherited across generations remains a topic of ongoing research, particularly in humans.

Conclusion

Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and RNA-mediated processes, play crucial roles in regulating gene expression. These processes are influenced by environmental factors and can lead to significant variability in gene expression, impacting development, differentiation, and disease. Understanding these mechanisms offers potential for novel therapeutic approaches in treating various diseases.

What is the Epigenetic influences on gene expression?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Epigenetics and gene expression

Epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and RNA-mediated processes, play a crucial role in regulating gene expression, affecting cell differentiation and development.

Epigenetic regulation of gene expression: the effect of altered chromatin structure from yeast to mammals.

Epigenetic regulation of gene expression involves altered chromatin structure, affecting gene expression in diverse organisms, providing strong models for considering such effects in human and mouse genetics.

Epigenetic control of gene expression in the lung.

Epigenetic marks influence gene expression in the lung and are associated with various lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Key Role of Epigenetics in Human Disease Prevention and Mitigation.

Epigenetics plays a key role in regulating gene expression, which may lead to new therapies for common diseases.

Epigenetic control

Epigenetics regulates biological processes from conception to death, with DNA methylation and histone post-translational modifications playing key roles in gene expression and affecting learning, memory formation, and cancer.

Epigenetic regulation and the variability of gene expression

Epigenetic regulation plays a central role in the variation and evolution of gene expression, with chromatin regulators playing a significant role in trans-variable genes.

Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance: Myths and Mechanisms

Epigenetic inheritance, influenced by factors like diet, environment, and emotions, may have transgenerational consequences, but the extent and impact on human genes remain unclear.

Metaboloepigenetics: Interrelationships between energy metabolism and epigenetic control of gene expression

Energy metabolism and epigenetics play a mechanistic link in regulating gene expression, influencing human health and disease.

Epigenetic Mechanisms Regulating Gene Expression

Epigenetic mechanisms regulate gene expression in mammalian species without altering the DNA sequence of the affected gene, influencing various genetic functions without changing the DNA sequence.

Epigenetics—an emerging and highly promising source of new drug targets

Epigenetic modifications to DNA and histone proteins play a crucial role in gene expression regulation, disrupted in cancer and chronic human diseases, offering new targets for drug discovery.

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