Epigenetic regulation of transcription: a mechanism for inducing variations in phenotype (fetal programming) by differences in nutrition during early life?
Epigenetic regulation of transcription: a mechanism for inducing variations in phenotype (fetal programming) by differences in nutrition during early life?
There is considerable evidence for the induction of different phenotypes by variations in the early life environment, including nutrition, which in man is associated with a graded risk of metabolic disease; fetal programming. It is likely that the induction of persistent changes to tissue structure and function by differences in the early life environment involves life-long alterations to the regulation of gene transcription. This view is supported by both studies of human subjects and animal models. The mechanism which underlies such changes to gene expression is now beginning to be understood. In the present review we discuss the role of changes in the epigenetic regulation of transcription, specifically DNA methylation and covalent modification of histones, in the induction of an altered phenotype by nutritional constraint in early life. The demonstration of altered epigenetic regulation of genes in phenotype induction suggests the possibility of interventions to modify long-term disease risk associated with unbalanced nutrition in early life.
epigenetic regulation, fetal programming, metabolic disease, DNA methylation, DNA methyltransferase
1036-1046
Burdge, G.C.
09d60a07-8ca1-4351-9bf1-de6ffcfb2159
Hanson, M.A.
1952fad1-abc7-4284-a0bc-a7eb31f70a3f
Slater-Jefferies, J.L.
e46c711a-9d4c-436a-b853-828df69bb4d7
Lillycrop, K.A.
eeaaa78d-0c4d-4033-a178-60ce7345a2cc
7 March 2007
Burdge, G.C.
09d60a07-8ca1-4351-9bf1-de6ffcfb2159
Hanson, M.A.
1952fad1-abc7-4284-a0bc-a7eb31f70a3f
Slater-Jefferies, J.L.
e46c711a-9d4c-436a-b853-828df69bb4d7
Lillycrop, K.A.
eeaaa78d-0c4d-4033-a178-60ce7345a2cc
Burdge, G.C., Hanson, M.A., Slater-Jefferies, J.L. and Lillycrop, K.A.
(2007)
Epigenetic regulation of transcription: a mechanism for inducing variations in phenotype (fetal programming) by differences in nutrition during early life?
British Journal of Nutrition, 97 (6), .
(doi:10.1017/S0007114507682920).
Abstract
There is considerable evidence for the induction of different phenotypes by variations in the early life environment, including nutrition, which in man is associated with a graded risk of metabolic disease; fetal programming. It is likely that the induction of persistent changes to tissue structure and function by differences in the early life environment involves life-long alterations to the regulation of gene transcription. This view is supported by both studies of human subjects and animal models. The mechanism which underlies such changes to gene expression is now beginning to be understood. In the present review we discuss the role of changes in the epigenetic regulation of transcription, specifically DNA methylation and covalent modification of histones, in the induction of an altered phenotype by nutritional constraint in early life. The demonstration of altered epigenetic regulation of genes in phenotype induction suggests the possibility of interventions to modify long-term disease risk associated with unbalanced nutrition in early life.
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Published date: 7 March 2007
Keywords:
epigenetic regulation, fetal programming, metabolic disease, DNA methylation, DNA methyltransferase
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Local EPrints ID: 56147
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/56147
ISSN: 0007-1145
PURE UUID: 9ab2f761-4dab-43b4-98a1-f909d57202f5
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Date deposited: 07 Aug 2008
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:50
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