Eukaryotic genes are packed into chromosome/chromatin structures, which result in a highly condensed genome that requires dynamic chromatin remodeling to facilitate the transcription process. DNA methylation and histone modifications are two important chromatin remodeling processes, which also serve to mediate gene-environment interactions to modulate the functional output of the genome. In addition to the genetic factors, epigenetic modulators are gaining new perspectives in gene deregulation responsible for human diseases. Some of the complex human diseases like cancer and diabetes are believed to have a strong environmental effects in addition to the genetic causes. Aberrations in chromatin architecture are being associated with the genetically and environmentally-related diseases, thereby emphasizing the importance of interaction between gene and environment (GxE). GxE is thought to be mediated by the epigenetic modifications of genome, which often arise in response to changes in the environment. Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are more dynamic, often reversible, and depend on the presence/absence of the inducing factor(s). Thus, GxE can alter gene/genome activities which may lead to cascades of cellular events to facilitate adaptation of an individual to its environment. Among the cellular events affected by epigenetic modifications, regulation of transcription is a central mechanism to control the production of mRNAs and subsequently the proteins; thus, the interactions between genes and intracellular protein factors can be viewed as an endogenous GxE. The recent findings on epigenetic basis of human metabolic disorders facilitate further exploration of the epigenetic mechanisms to better understand the molecular basis of such complex physiological abnormalities.
Plants, being sessile autotrophs, face continuous fluctuations in the environmental conditions throughout their developmental processes and life-cycle. Environmental stresses alter molecular and cellular functions causing adverse effects on growth, development, and productivity of plants resulting in threats to global food security, which is becoming more prevalent due to the global climate changes. Thus, the performance of plants depends on their sensitivity to environmental factors and GxE effects, with built-in phenotypic plasticity required for the plants to cope with the changing environmental conditions. Hence, the need of the day is to develop climate-resilient cultivars to minimize the unfavorable effects of global climate change. However, such issues require a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms, particularly epigenetics, underlying responses to the environmental cues.
This Research Topic aims to present new evidence as well as novel insights and summarize the latest understanding in the field of epigenetics as one of the mechanisms of gene-environment interactions being observed in animals and plants. We will consider Original Research, Review, and expert Opinion articles on recent, promising, and novel research in the field of epigenetics and epigenomics demonstrating GxE interactions.
The areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
* Genome-wide Gene×Environment Effects
* Candidate Genes for Gene×Environment
* Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance
* Epigenetic Mechanisms in Development and Diseases
* Epigenetic Mechanisms in Metabolic Disorders
* Epigenetic Strategies for Improving Stress Tolerance
Eukaryotic genes are packed into chromosome/chromatin structures, which result in a highly condensed genome that requires dynamic chromatin remodeling to facilitate the transcription process. DNA methylation and histone modifications are two important chromatin remodeling processes, which also serve to mediate gene-environment interactions to modulate the functional output of the genome. In addition to the genetic factors, epigenetic modulators are gaining new perspectives in gene deregulation responsible for human diseases. Some of the complex human diseases like cancer and diabetes are believed to have a strong environmental effects in addition to the genetic causes. Aberrations in chromatin architecture are being associated with the genetically and environmentally-related diseases, thereby emphasizing the importance of interaction between gene and environment (GxE). GxE is thought to be mediated by the epigenetic modifications of genome, which often arise in response to changes in the environment. Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are more dynamic, often reversible, and depend on the presence/absence of the inducing factor(s). Thus, GxE can alter gene/genome activities which may lead to cascades of cellular events to facilitate adaptation of an individual to its environment. Among the cellular events affected by epigenetic modifications, regulation of transcription is a central mechanism to control the production of mRNAs and subsequently the proteins; thus, the interactions between genes and intracellular protein factors can be viewed as an endogenous GxE. The recent findings on epigenetic basis of human metabolic disorders facilitate further exploration of the epigenetic mechanisms to better understand the molecular basis of such complex physiological abnormalities.
Plants, being sessile autotrophs, face continuous fluctuations in the environmental conditions throughout their developmental processes and life-cycle. Environmental stresses alter molecular and cellular functions causing adverse effects on growth, development, and productivity of plants resulting in threats to global food security, which is becoming more prevalent due to the global climate changes. Thus, the performance of plants depends on their sensitivity to environmental factors and GxE effects, with built-in phenotypic plasticity required for the plants to cope with the changing environmental conditions. Hence, the need of the day is to develop climate-resilient cultivars to minimize the unfavorable effects of global climate change. However, such issues require a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms, particularly epigenetics, underlying responses to the environmental cues.
This Research Topic aims to present new evidence as well as novel insights and summarize the latest understanding in the field of epigenetics as one of the mechanisms of gene-environment interactions being observed in animals and plants. We will consider Original Research, Review, and expert Opinion articles on recent, promising, and novel research in the field of epigenetics and epigenomics demonstrating GxE interactions.
The areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
* Genome-wide Gene×Environment Effects
* Candidate Genes for Gene×Environment
* Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance
* Epigenetic Mechanisms in Development and Diseases
* Epigenetic Mechanisms in Metabolic Disorders
* Epigenetic Strategies for Improving Stress Tolerance