DNA methylation: roles in mammalian development

ZD Smith, A Meissner - Nature Reviews Genetics, 2013 - nature.com
ZD Smith, A Meissner
Nature Reviews Genetics, 2013nature.com
DNA methylation is among the best studied epigenetic modifications and is essential to
mammalian development. Although the methylation status of most CpG dinucleotides in the
genome is stably propagated through mitosis, improvements to methods for measuring
methylation have identified numerous regions in which it is dynamically regulated. In this
Review, we discuss key concepts in the function of DNA methylation in mammals, stemming
from more than two decades of research, including many recent studies that have elucidated …
Abstract
DNA methylation is among the best studied epigenetic modifications and is essential to mammalian development. Although the methylation status of most CpG dinucleotides in the genome is stably propagated through mitosis, improvements to methods for measuring methylation have identified numerous regions in which it is dynamically regulated. In this Review, we discuss key concepts in the function of DNA methylation in mammals, stemming from more than two decades of research, including many recent studies that have elucidated when and where DNA methylation has a regulatory role in the genome. We include insights from early development, embryonic stem cells and adult lineages, particularly haematopoiesis, to highlight the general features of this modification as it participates in both global and localized epigenetic regulation.
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