• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.33-40
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• 2017

X-chromosome inactivation is one of the most complex events observed in early embryo developments. The epigenetic changes occurred in female X-chromosome is essential to compensate dosages of X-linked genes between males and females. Because of the relevance of the epigenetic process to the normal embryo developments and stem cell studies, X-chromosome inactivation has been focused intensively for last 10 years. Initiation and regulation of the process is managed by diverse factors. Especially, proteins and non-coding RNAs encoded in X-chromosome inactivation center, and a couple of transcription factors have been reported to regulate the event. In this review, we introduce the reported factors, and how they regulate epigenetic inactivation of X-chromosomes.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

Most living organisms synchronize their physiological and behavioral activities with the daily changes in the environment using intrinsic time-keeping systems called circadian clocks. In mammals, the key molecular features of the internal clock are transcription- and translational-based negative feedback loops, in which clock-specific transcription factors activate the periodic expression of their own repressors, thereby generating the circadian rhythms. CLOCK and BMAL1, the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)/PAS transcription factors, constitute the positive limb of the molecular clock oscillator. Recent investigations have shown that various levels of posttranslational regulation work in concert with CLOCK/BMAL1 in mediating circadian and cellular stimuli to control and reset the circadian rhythmicity. Here we review how the CLOCK and BMAL1 activities are regulated by intracellular distribution, posttranslational modification, and the recruitment of various epigenetic regulators in response to circadian and cellular signaling pathways.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2017

Epigenomics is a study that analyzes and quantifies various epigenetic alterations that affect gene expressions in cells from the viewpoint of collective characteristics on biological molecular pools. DNA methylation and histone modification in cells can induce the epigenetic alterations. Especially, epigenetic alterations influenced by external factors as ingested foods and other environmental factors have been examined in the whole genome regions, which provide accumulated data of altered regions or patterns of global genome, Statistical analyses of these regions or patterns enables us to correlate epigenomic changes with human diseases in the whole genome region. Finding meaningful regulators is a major concern of epigenomic research in recent years, and these results will give the food industry an important clue to future food

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.49-49
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• 2001

To elucidate overall changes in DNA methylation that occurs by inappropriate epigenetic control during ageing, we compared fetal bovine fibroblasts and their aged neomycin-resistant versions using bisulfite-PCR technology. Reduction in DNA methylation was observed in euchromatic repeats (18S-rRNA/art2) and promoter regions of sing1e-copy genes (the cytokeratin/-lactoglobulin/interleukin-13 genes). Contrastingly, a stable maintenance of DNA methylation was revealed in various heterochromatic sequences (satellite I/IIalphoid and Bov-B). The differential inheritance modes of DNA methylation was confirmed through the analysis of individual neomycin-resistant clones. These global, multi-loci analyses provide evidence on the tendency of differential epigenetic modification between genomic DNA regions during ageing.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.86-98
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• 2023

The genome is almost identical in all the cells of the body. However, the functions and morphologies of each cell are different, and the factors that determine them are the genes and proteins expressed in the cells. Over the past decades, studies on epigenetic information, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin accessibility, and chromatin conformation have shown that these properties play a fundamental role in gene regulation. Furthermore, various diseases such as cancer have been found to be associated with epigenetic mechanisms. In this study, we summarized the biological properties of epigenetics and single-cell epigenomic profiling techniques, and discussed future challenges in the field of epigenetics.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.273-279
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• 2011

Epigenetic regulation is a phenomenon that changes the gene function without changing the underlying DNA sequences. Epigenetic status of chromosome is regulated by mechanisms such as histone modification, DNA modification, and RNAi silencing. In this review, we focused on histone methylation for epigenetic regulation in ES cells. Two antagonizing multiprotein complexes regulate methylation of histones to guide expression of genes in ES cells. The Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), including EED, EZH2, and SUZ12 as core factors, contributes to gene repression by increasing trimethylation of H3K27 (H3K27me3). In contrast, the Trithorax group (TrxG) complex including MLL is related to gene activation by making H3K4me3. PRC2 and TrxG accompany a variety of accessory proteins. Most prominent feature of epigenetic regulation in ES cells is a bivalent state in which H3K27me3 and H3K4me3 appear simultaneously. Concerted regulation of PRC2, TrxG complex, and H3K4- or H3K27-specific demethylases activate expression of pluripotency-related genes and suppress development-related genes in ES cells. Modified balance of the regulators also enables ES cells to efficiently differentiate to a variety of cells upon differentiating signals. More detailed insights on the epigenetic regulators and their action will lead us to better understanding and use of ES cells for future application.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1536-1544
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• 2018

Depression is a common, serious, and recurring mental disorder. The pathogenesis of depression involves many factors such as environmental factor, genetic factor and alteration of structure and function in neurobiological systems. Increasing evidence supports that epigenetic alteration may be associated with depression. The epigenetics is explained as the mechanisms by which environmental factor causes changes in chromatin structure and alters gene expression without changing DNA base sequence. DNA methylation and histone modification involving histone acetylation and methylation are the main epigenetic mechanisms. Animal studies have shown that stressful environment such as early life stress can leave persistent epigenetic marks in the genome, which alter gene expression and influence neural and behavioral function through adulthood. A potentially important gene in depression is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF plays a central role in depression and antidepressant action. In studies of the rodent, exposure to stress at prenatal, postnatal, and adult stages alters BDNF expression through histone modification and DNA methylation of the BDNF gene which results in anxiety and depressive-like behavior. This review discusses recent advances in the study of the epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to depression, particularly histone modification and DNA methylation of the BDNF gene, that may help in the development of new targets for depression treatment.

• Journal of Interdisciplinary Genomics
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.35-40
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• 2021

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder which lead to severe neurodevelopmental, endocrine, and metabolic impairment. PWS is genetic disorder related to genomic errors which lead to inactivation of paternally-inherited genes on chromosome 15q11-q13. Epigenetic mechanisms are also involved in PWS, and epigenetic therapies are under investigation. Here we provide review about genetics of PWS, focused on genes involved in pathophysiology of PWS. We will also summarize epigenetics and genetic counseling of PWS.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.175-180
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• 2019

Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes at the physical ends of linear eukaryotic chromosomes. They protect the chromosome ends from various external attacks to avoid the loss of genetic information. Telomeres are maintained by cellular activities associated with telomerase and telomere-binding proteins. In addition, epigenetic regulators have pivotal roles in controlling the chromatin state at telomeres and subtelomeric regions, contributing to the maintenance of chromosomal homeostasis in yeast, animals, and plants. Here, we review the recent findings on chromatin modifications possibly associated with the dynamic states of telomeres in Arabidopsis thaliana.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.82-86
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• 2006