REGULATORY MECHANISMS OF MAMMALIAN IMPRINTING
E. L. Patkin, I. O. Suchkova
Institute of Experimental Medicine RAMS, St. Petersburg;
e-mail: patkin@EP4686.spb.edu
Epigenetic modifications, such as monoallelic DNA methylation, covalent histone modifications, nonhistone
proteins, chromatin folding, heterochromatinization, spatial nucleus organization are reviewed with regard to
establishment and maintenance of imprinting in mammals. Special attention is paid to repeated DNA sequences as
intermediates of the above epigenetic modifications. A suggestion is put forward relative to importance of
preimplantation development, in particular, to chromosome organization and segregation in the establishment of
imprinting. Some futher directions of imprinting mechanisms are also discussed.
Key words: imprinting, methylation, epigenetics, repeated DNA sequences, chromatin, heterochromatin,
microRNA, spatial nucleus organization
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