King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK.
Brief Funct Genomics. 2010 Jul;9(4):340-6. doi: 10.1093/bfgp/elq015. Epub 2010 Jun 29.
Studies of large imprinted clusters, such as the Gnas locus, have revealed much about the significance of DNA methylation, transcription and other factors in the establishment and maintenance of imprinted gene expression. However, the complexity of such loci can make manipulating them and interpreting the results challenging. We review here a distinct class of imprinted genes, which have arisen by retrotransposition, and which have the potential to be used as models for the dissection of the fundamental features and mechanisms required for imprinting. They are also of interest in their own right, generating diversity in the transcriptome and providing raw material upon which selection can act.
对大型印迹簇(如 Gnas 基因座)的研究揭示了 DNA 甲基化、转录和其他因素在印迹基因表达的建立和维持中的重要性。然而,这些基因座的复杂性使得对其进行操作和解释结果具有挑战性。我们在这里回顾了一类独特的印迹基因,它们是通过反转录产生的,有可能被用作剖析印迹所需的基本特征和机制的模型。它们本身也很有趣,它们在转录组中产生多样性,并为选择提供原材料。