scholarly journals Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance Is Revealed as a Multi-step Process by Studies of the SET-Domain Proteins SET-25 and SET-32

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 251686571984421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel M Woodhouse ◽  
Alyson Ashe

It is now clear that heredity is not determined purely by Mendelian genetic inheritance; sometimes, epigenetic signals can be passed from parent to progeny for multiple generations. This phenomenon is termed transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI), and examples have now been observed in multiple organisms including plants, flies, mice, and nematodes. Here we discuss the recent findings that TEI is a multi-step process and that the putative chromatin modifiers SET-25 and SET-32 are important in the establishment but not maintenance of silencing.

Cell Reports ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 2259-2272.e5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel M. Woodhouse ◽  
Gabriele Buchmann ◽  
Matthew Hoe ◽  
Dylan J. Harney ◽  
Jason K.K. Low ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan H. Lister-Shimauchi ◽  
Michael Dinh ◽  
Paul Maddox ◽  
Shawn Ahmed

AbstractDeficiency for telomerase results in transgenerational shortening of telomeres. However, telomeres have no known role in transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. C. elegans Protection Of Telomeres 1 (Pot1) proteins form foci at the telomeres of germ cells that disappear at fertilization and gradually accumulate during development. We find that gametes from mutants deficient for Pot1 proteins alter levels of telomeric foci for multiple generations. Gametes from pot-2 mutants give rise to progeny with abundant POT-1::mCherry and mNeonGreen::POT-2 foci throughout development, which persists for six generations. In contrast, gametes from pot-1 mutants or pot-1; pot-2 double mutants induce diminished Pot1 foci for several generations. Deficiency for MET-2, SET-25, or SET-32 methyltransferases, which promote heterochromatin formation, results in gametes that induce diminished Pot1 foci for several generations. We propose that C. elegans POT-1 may interact with H3K9 methyltransferases during pot-2 mutant gametogenesis to induce a persistent form of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance that causes constitutively high levels of heterochromatic Pot1 foci.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 1019-1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel M. Woodhouse ◽  
Alyson Ashe

Gene regulatory information can be inherited between generations in a phenomenon termed transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI). While examples of TEI in many animals accumulate, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has proven particularly useful in investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon. In C. elegans and other animals, the modification of histone proteins has emerged as a potential carrier and effector of transgenerational epigenetic information. In this review, we explore the contribution of histone modifications to TEI in C. elegans. We describe the role of repressive histone marks, histone methyltransferases, and associated chromatin factors in heritable gene silencing, and discuss recent developments and unanswered questions in how these factors integrate with other known TEI mechanisms. We also review the transgenerational effects of the manipulation of histone modifications on germline health and longevity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Bošković ◽  
Oliver J. Rando

Inheritance of genomic DNA underlies the vast majority of biological inheritance, yet it has been clear for decades that additional epigenetic information can be passed on to future generations. Here, we review major model systems for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance via the germline in multicellular organisms. In addition to surveying examples of epivariation that may arise stochastically or in response to unknown stimuli, we also discuss the induction of heritable epigenetic changes by genetic or environmental perturbations. Mechanistically, we discuss the increasingly well-understood molecular pathways responsible for epigenetic inheritance, with a focus on the unusual features of the germline epigenome.


Author(s):  
Samuel P. Hoile ◽  
Karen A. Lillycrop ◽  
Leonie R. Grenfell ◽  
Mark A. Hanson ◽  
Graham C. Burdge

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document