Epigenetic Variation and Inheritance

表观遗传变异和遗传

• 批准号: 0321990
• 负责人: Eric Richards
• 金额: $ 34.61万
• 依托单位: Washington University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-09-01 至 2006-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0321990&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Epigenetic; Variation; Inheritance

Genomes encode information in two ways, genetically and epigenetically. Genetic information is that contained in the nucleotide sequence of the genome, whereas epigenetic information is that contained elsewhere, typically in modifications to the nucleotides or to the chromatin. Epigenetic information in the form of differential DNA methylation and alternative chromatin packaging influences access to the underlying genetic information and thereby plays a central role in the modulation of gene expression. This project focuses on variation in epigenetic information and the extent to which this variation can affect inheritance from one generation to the next. The impetus for this project was the observation of the effects of altering cytosine methylation in Arabidopsis thaliana. In this plant, reduction in cytosine methylation leads to stable inherited variation in epigenetic information. This variation, in turn, generates abnormal phenotypes at the whole organism level. The project involves two major components. The first is the investigation of the molecular basis of the DNA hypomethylation-induced dwarfing defect, bal, caused by an epigenetic alteration that leads to elevated transcription of a pathogen resistance gene. The second objective is to determine the prevalence of epigenetic variation generated under more natural conditions (i.e. in the absence of mutations that destroy proper epigenetic modification). To establish a baseline for epigenetic variation in this model species, the investigator will study the occurrence of alternative epigenetic alleles among different Arabidopsis strains.Understanding the influence of modifications to nucleotides in genes and of the packaging of chromosomes is essential to understanding inheritance. This project will help the scientific community in this endeavour.

基因组在遗传和表观遗传上以两种方式编码信息。 遗传信息是基因组的核苷酸序列中包含的，而表观遗传信息是在其他地方包含的，通常是在对核苷酸或染色质的修饰中。 差异DNA甲基化和替代染色质包装形式的表观遗传信息会影响对基本遗传信息的获取，从而在基因表达的调节中起着核心作用。 该项目的重点是表观遗传信息的变化以及该变化可能影响从一代到下一代的继承的程度。 该项目的动力是观察拟南芥中胞嘧啶甲基化改变的影响。 在这种植物中，胞嘧啶甲基化的降低会导致表观遗传信息的遗传变异稳定。 反过来，这种变化在整个生物水平上产生异常表型。 该项目涉及两个主要组成部分。 首先是对DNA降甲基化诱导的矮小缺陷BAL的分子基础的研究，这是由表观遗传学改变引起的，从而导致病原体抗性基因的转录升高。 第二个目标是确定在更自然条件下产生的表观遗传变异的患病率（即，在没有破坏适当表观遗传修饰的突变的情况下）。 为了建立该模型物种表观遗传变异的基线，研究者将研究不同拟南芥菌株之间替代表观遗传等位基因的发生。理解对基因中核苷酸的修饰和染色体包装的影响对理解遗传是必不可少的。 该项目将帮助科学界的这项工作。