Reik W, Dean W
Laboratory of Developmental Genetics and Imprinting, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK.
Electrophoresis. 2001 Aug;22(14):2838-43. doi: 10.1002/1522-2683(200108)22:14<2838::AID-ELPS2838>3.0.CO;2-M.
Epigenetic modifications of DNA such as methylation are important for genome function during development and in adults. DNA methylation has central importance for genomic imprinting and other aspects of epigenetic control of gene expression, and during development methylation patterns are largely maintained in somatic lineages. The mammalian genome undergoes major reprogramming of methylation patterns in the germ cells and in the early embryo. Some of the factors that are involved both in maintenance and in reprogramming, such as methyltransferases, are being identified. Epigenetic changes are likely to be important in animal cloning, and influence the occurrence of epimutations and of epigenetic inheritance. Environmental factors can alter epigenetic modifications and may thus have long lasting effects on phenotype. Epigenetic engineering is likely to play an important role in medicine in the future.
DNA的表观遗传修饰，如甲基化，在发育过程中和成体中对基因组功能至关重要。DNA甲基化对于基因组印记以及基因表达表观遗传控制的其他方面具有核心重要性，并且在发育过程中，甲基化模式在体细胞谱系中基本得以维持。哺乳动物基因组在生殖细胞和早期胚胎中经历甲基化模式的重大重编程。一些参与维持和重编程的因子，如甲基转移酶，正在被识别出来。表观遗传变化在动物克隆中可能很重要，并影响表型突变和表观遗传继承的发生。环境因素可以改变表观遗传修饰，从而可能对表型产生长期影响。表观遗传工程未来可能在医学中发挥重要作用。
