Epigenetic And Cellular Memory

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Department of Genetics, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Molecular Systems Biology, Cell Sciences Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

It has been stated that cells sometimes have the ability to remember who and what they are! They have this ability, even, though they contain although they have all the necessary genes neededwith which to become all typeskinds of cells. In this regard, the pattern of gene expression must be inherited from one cell generation to the next by mechanisms that lie outside the DNA sequence itself, which is termed cellular memory or epigenetic inheritance. Developmental biology is under the control of both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Studies show that the regulation of chromatin structure by DNA methylation and histone modification is crucial for genome reprogramming during early embryogenesis and gametogenesis, as well as for tissue-specific gene expression and differentiation. Understanding the process of epigenetic reprogramming in development is important for studies of cloning and the clinical application of stem-cell therapy. In the current review we briefly discuss the molecular mechanism of cellular memory, under the control of epigenetic regulation.

Keywords

Cell Journal (Yakhteh)
Volume 12, Issue 3
September 2010
Pages 311-318

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