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Genomic imprinting: the emergence of an epigenetic paradigm

Nature Reviews Genetics volume 12, pages 565–575 (2011)Cite this article

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An Erratum to this article was published on 02 August 2011

This article has been updated

Abstract

The emerging awareness of the contribution of epigenetic processes to genome function in health and disease is underpinned by decades of research in model systems. In particular, many principles of the epigenetic control of genome function have been uncovered by studies of genomic imprinting. The phenomenon of genomic imprinting, which results in some genes being expressed in a parental--origin-specific manner, is essential for normal mammalian growth and development and exemplifies the regulatory influences of DNA methylation, chromatin structure and non-coding RNA. Setting seminal discoveries in this field alongside recent progress and remaining questions shows how the study of imprinting continues to enhance our understanding of the epigenetic control of genome function in other contexts.

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Figure 1: Imprinted clusters in mammals.
Figure 2: Tissue-specific imprinting effects.

Change history

  • 02 August 2011

    In figure 1Aa of the above article, the imprinting control region (ICR) on the paternal allele of the Airn gene was incorrectly shown as methylated (indicated by a dark grey octagon). This ICR should be shown as unmethylated (indicated by a white octagon). This image has now been corrected online. The editors apologize for this error.

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Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges the many scientists whose research has contributed to the genetic, embryological and epigenetic studies on parental-origin effects and genomic imprinting, and apologizes to those whose work it has not been possible to mention or cite in the confines of this Timeline article. The author is grateful to previous and current members of the Ferguson-Smith team for their contributions to the ideas presented here, and thanks the colleagues with whom she has spent many a long hour debating and discussing the past, present and future of genomic imprinting and epigenetic processes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anne C. Ferguson-Smith is at the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience and Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK.,

    Anne C. Ferguson-Smith

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  1. Anne C. Ferguson-Smith
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Correspondence to Anne C. Ferguson-Smith.

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FURTHER INFORMATION

Anne C. Ferguson-Smith's homepage

Catalogue of Imprinting Effects

Epigenesys (EU Network of Excellence)

International Human Epigenome Consortium

MouseBook imprinting catalogue

Medical Research Council Harwell Genomic Imprinting homepage

University of Cambridge Centre for Trophoblast Research

Glossary

Choroid plexus

A rich network of blood vessels located in the brain that is responsible for the production of cerebrospinal fluid.

Coccid insects

Scale insects of the order Hemiptera.

Complete hydatidiform mole

A product of conception that has two paternally derived genomes and is devoid of maternally inherited chromosomes. It develops as a rapidly growing mass, is derived from cells that would normally contribute to the placenta and lacks fetal tissue.

CCCTC-binding factor

(CTCF). A highly conserved zinc finger protein that influences chromatin organization and architecture and is implicated in diverse regulatory functions including transcriptional activation, repression and insulation.

Heterochromatic

A cytogenetic term to describe chromosomes or chromosomal regions that remain condensed and heavily stained during interphase.

Histone modifications

Reversible post-translational modifications, such as methylation and acetylation, that occur on the amino-terminal tails of core histone proteins.

Leptomeninges

Two of the three layers of membrane that protect the brain and the spinal cord; cerebrospinal fluid circulates between these two layers.

LTR retrotransposons

A long terminal repeat (LTR)-containing class of genetic element that can replicate and insert into a host genome through an RNA intermediate.

Neurogenic niche

A specific microenvironment in which neural stem cells can respond to endogenous and exogenous cues and can undergo self-renewal, proliferation and/or differentiation.

Ovarian teratomas

A tumour, derived from egg cells, which consists of cells that resemble fetal tissue-derived cells.

Pachytene

A stage of meiosis in which the chromosome homologues are closely synapsed. This is the stage when crossing-over between the homologous chromosomes occurs.

Pronucleus

The haploid nucleus from a male or female gamete.

Reciprocal translocation

The interchange of genetic material between two chromosomes that are non-homologous.

Robertsonian translocation

A chromosomal abnormality in which two acrocentric chromosomes become joined by a common centromere.

Sciarid flies

Dipteran insects of the genus Sciara, also known as fungus gnats.

Uniparental disomy

A cellular or organismal phenomenon in which both chromosome homologues are derived from one parent with none derived from the other parent. It can be the result of fertilization involving a disomic gamete and a gamete that is nullisomic for the homologue.

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Ferguson-Smith, A. Genomic imprinting: the emergence of an epigenetic paradigm. Nat Rev Genet 12, 565–575 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg3032

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