Epigenetics is the mechanism that defines gene expression patterns without changing the DNA sequence and has far-reaching consequences on every aspect of life, ranging from normal development to pathogenesis. As a major player in epigenetic regulation, chromatin has been the focus of many studies over the past thirty years. The organization of genomic DNA into chromatin endows it with a high level of organized information, thus expanding the single genome to include many epigenomes.
For example, DNA base pairs, the principal components of chromatin, can be modified by methylation or its derivates, and histones can be acetylated, methylated, phosphorylated, ubiquitinated, or modified by other mechanisms that remain to be discovered. All of these marks encode information for directing the fate of the enclosed DNA sequences. These mechanisms integrate signals from endogenous developmental clues or exogenous environmental changes to fine-tune the chromatin conformation and the fate of genes within the chromatin. Epigenetic regulation underlies development and differentiation, cell fate determination, cancer occurrence, etc. Germ cells give rise to gametes, and in mammals, germ cell fate determination includes diverse aspects of oocyte and sperm development under strict epigenetic and genetic control. Studies of epigenetic and molecular development rules and germ cell fate determination are of great importance.
There is no way for a single issue to cover all topics of epigenetic regulation in development and disease. In this issue, we focus on the epigenetics and molecular controls of development and cell fate determination, particularly germ cell fate determination. Both research papers and mini-reviews are welcome.
Epigenetics is the mechanism that defines gene expression patterns without changing the DNA sequence and has far-reaching consequences on every aspect of life, ranging from normal development to pathogenesis. As a major player in epigenetic regulation, chromatin has been the focus of many studies over the past thirty years. The organization of genomic DNA into chromatin endows it with a high level of organized information, thus expanding the single genome to include many epigenomes.
For example, DNA base pairs, the principal components of chromatin, can be modified by methylation or its derivates, and histones can be acetylated, methylated, phosphorylated, ubiquitinated, or modified by other mechanisms that remain to be discovered. All of these marks encode information for directing the fate of the enclosed DNA sequences. These mechanisms integrate signals from endogenous developmental clues or exogenous environmental changes to fine-tune the chromatin conformation and the fate of genes within the chromatin. Epigenetic regulation underlies development and differentiation, cell fate determination, cancer occurrence, etc. Germ cells give rise to gametes, and in mammals, germ cell fate determination includes diverse aspects of oocyte and sperm development under strict epigenetic and genetic control. Studies of epigenetic and molecular development rules and germ cell fate determination are of great importance.
There is no way for a single issue to cover all topics of epigenetic regulation in development and disease. In this issue, we focus on the epigenetics and molecular controls of development and cell fate determination, particularly germ cell fate determination. Both research papers and mini-reviews are welcome.
