scholarly journals Epigenetic Influences on Plant Responses to the Environment [University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh]

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela L Vickman ◽  
Travis Smith ◽  
Hayley Vandenboom ◽  
Lisa A. Dorn
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
Physical Structure ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Appropriate Behavior ◽  
Stressful Environment ◽  
University Of Wisconsin

Plants and animals may respond to changes in the environment at the molecular level by changing the amount of a gene product (a protein) to generate the appropriate behavior or physical structure (a phenotype) for that environment. For example, an extremely stressful environment can cause plants to reproduce immediately rather than waiting for conditions to improve. The molecular mechanisms for changing phenotype with environment (phenotypic plasticity) are not clear, however previous studies have shown plasticity may be the result of failing to change expression to maintain a phenotype or a deliberate change in expression altering the phenotype. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic plasticity, I am using a minION sequencing apparatus to re-sequence three inbred lines of Arabidopsis thaliana with extreme phenotypic plasticity differences and gene expression differences with the environment. I will specifically explore the role of methylated cytosines and adenines in gene expression.

scholarly journals The role of epigenetic regulation in adaptive phenotypic plasticity of plants

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 347-359
Author(s):  
E.L. Kordyum ◽  
◽  
D.V. Dubyna ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Epigenetic Regulation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Model Species ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Adaptive Phenotypic Plasticity

In recent decades, knowledge about the role of epigenetic regulation of gene expression in plant responses to external stimuli and in adaptation of plants to adverse environmental fluctuations have extended significantly. DNA methylation is considered as the main molecular mechanism that provides genomic information and contributes to the understanding of the molecular basis of phenotypic variations based on epigenetic modifications. Unfortunately, the vast majority of research in this area has been performed on the model species Arabidopsis thaliana. The development of the methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) method has made it possible to implement the large-scale detection of DNA methylation alterations in wild non-model and agricultural plants with large and highly repetitive genomes in natural and manipulated habitats. The article presents current information on DNA methylation in species of natural communities and crops and its importance in plant development and adaptive phenotypic plasticity, along with brief reviews of current ideas about adaptive phenotypic plasticity and epigenetic regulation of gene expression. The great potential of further studies of the epigenetic role in phenotypic plasticity of a wide range of non-model species in natural populations and agrocenoses for understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant existence in the changing environment in onto- and phylogeny, directly related to the key tasks of forecasting the effects of global warming and crop selection, is emphasized. Specific taxa of the Ukrainian flora, which, in authors’ opinion, are promising and interesting for this type of research, are recommended.

scholarly journals The Role of Translation Initiation Regulation in Haematopoiesis

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Godfrey Grech ◽  
Marieke von Lindern
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Translation Initiation ◽  
Translational Control ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Mrna Translation ◽  
Translation Control ◽  
Haematological Disorders

Organisation of RNAs into functional subgroups that are translated in response to extrinsic and intrinsic factors underlines a relatively unexplored gene expression modulation that drives cell fate in the same manner as regulation of the transcriptome by transcription factors. Recent studies on the molecular mechanisms of inflammatory responses and haematological disorders indicate clearly that the regulation of mRNA translation at the level of translation initiation, mRNA stability, and protein isoform synthesis is implicated in the tight regulation of gene expression. This paper outlines how these posttranscriptional control mechanisms, including control at the level of translation initiation factors and the role of RNA binding proteins, affect hematopoiesis. The clinical relevance of these mechanisms in haematological disorders indicates clearly the potential therapeutic implications and the need of molecular tools that allow measurement at the level of translational control. Although the importance of miRNAs in translation control is well recognised and studied extensively, this paper will exclude detailed account of this level of control.

scholarly journals Molecular Mechanisms of Oxytocin Signaling at the Synaptic Connection

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Bakos ◽  
Annamaria Srancikova ◽  
Tomas Havranek ◽  
Zuzana Bacova
Keyword(s):  
Neurodevelopmental Disorders ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Neuronal Excitability ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Oxytocin Receptors ◽  
Potential Therapeutic Intervention ◽  
Early Alteration

Aberrant regulation of oxytocin signaling is associated with the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. Synaptic dysfunctions in neurodevelopmental disorders are becoming increasingly known, and their pathogenic mechanisms could be a target of potential therapeutic intervention. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the role of oxytocin and its receptor in synapse structure, function, and neuron connectivity. An early alteration in oxytocin signaling may disturb neuronal maturation and may have short-term and long-term pathological consequences. At the molecular level, neurodevelopmental disorders include alterations in cytoskeletal rearrangement and neuritogenesis resulting in a diversity of synaptopathies. The presence of oxytocin receptors in the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes and the direct effects of oxytocin on neuronal excitability by regulating the activity of ion channels in the cell membrane implicate that alterations in oxytocin signaling could be involved in synaptopathies. The ability of oxytocin to modulate neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and certain parameters of cytoskeletal arrangement is discussed in the present review.

scholarly journals The role of FLOWERING LOCUS C in vernalization of Brassica: the importance of vernalization research in the face of climate change

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Shea ◽  
Etsuko Itabashi ◽  
Satoko Takada ◽  
Eigo Fukai ◽  
Tomohiro Kakizaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Climatic Changes ◽  
Environmental Cues ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Agricultural Crops ◽  
Regulatory Pathways ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
The Face

As climatic changes occur over the coming decades, our scientific understanding of plant responses to environmental cues will become an increasingly important consideration in the breeding of agricultural crops. This review provides a summary of the literature regarding vernalization research in Brassicaceae, covering both the historical origins of vernalization research and current understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind the regulatory pathways involved in vernalization and subsequent inflorescence. We discuss the evolutionarily conserved biology between the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana and the Brassica genus of crop cultivars and contrast the differences between the genera to illustrate the importance of Brassica-specific research into vernalization.

The importance of epigenome research in the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 325
Author(s):  
Przemysław Krzysztof Wirstlein ◽  
Paweł P. Jagodziński ◽  
Małgorzata Szczepańska
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Control Of Gene Expression ◽  
Epigenetic Control ◽  
Current State

The causes of endometriosis remain unexplained. Studying the molecular mechanisms at the origin of the lesions leads to conclusions about the important role of the epigenome. This mini-review is a summary of the current state of knowledge about the processes of epigenetic control of gene expression involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

scholarly journals The Emerging Role of PIWI-Interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in Gastrointestinal Cancers: An Updated Perspective

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 202
Author(s):  
Ismael Riquelme ◽  
Pablo Pérez-Moreno ◽  
Pablo Letelier ◽  
Priscilla Brebi ◽  
Juan Carlos Roa
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Therapeutic Targets ◽  
Molecular Characteristics ◽  
Clinical Markers ◽  
Rna Transcripts ◽  
Gi Cancers ◽  
Tumor Types ◽  
Cumulative Evidence

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers produce ~3.4 million related deaths worldwide, comprising 35% of all cancer-related deaths. The high mortality among GI cancers is due to late diagnosis, the presence of metastasis and drug resistance development. Additionally, current clinical markers do not adequately guide patient management, thereby new and more reliable biomarkers and therapeutic targets are still needed for these diseases. RNA-seq technology has allowed the discovery of new types of RNA transcripts including PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), which have particular characteristics that enable these molecules to act via diverse molecular mechanisms for regulating gene expression. Cumulative evidence has described the potential role of piRNAs in the development of several tumor types as a likely explanation for certain genomic abnormalities and signaling pathways’ deregulations observed in cancer. In addition, these piRNAs might be also proposed as promising diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers or as potential therapeutic targets in malignancies. This review describes important topics about piRNAs including their molecular characteristics, biosynthesis processes, gene expression silencing mechanisms, and the manner in which these transcripts have been studied in samples and cell lines of GI cancers to elucidate their implications in these diseases. Moreover, this article discusses the potential clinical usefulness of piRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in GI cancers.

scholarly journals Histone acetylation regulates the expression of genes involved in worker reproduction in the ant Temnothorax rugatulus

BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Choppin ◽  
Barbara Feldmeyer ◽  
Susanne Foitzik
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Histone Acetylation ◽  
Social Insects ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Worker Reproduction ◽  
Ovary Development ◽  
Chemical Inhibitors

Abstract Background In insect societies, queens monopolize reproduction while workers perform tasks such as brood care or foraging. Queen loss leads to ovary development and lifespan extension in workers of many ant species. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of this phenotypic plasticity remain unclear. Recent studies highlight the importance of epigenetics in regulating plastic traits in social insects. Thus, we investigated the role of histone acetylation in regulating worker reproduction in the ant Temnothorax rugatulus. We removed queens from their colonies to induce worker fecundity, and either fed workers with chemical inhibitors of histone acetylation (C646), deacetylation (TSA), or the solvent (DMSO) as control. We monitored worker number for six weeks after which we assessed ovary development and sequenced fat body mRNA. Results Workers survived better in queenless colonies. They also developed their ovaries after queen removal in control colonies as expected, but not in colonies treated with the chemical inhibitors. Both inhibitors affected gene expression, although the inhibition of histone acetylation using C646 altered the expression of more genes with immunity, fecundity, and longevity functionalities. Interestingly, these C646-treated workers shared many upregulated genes with infertile workers from queenright colonies. We also identified one gene with antioxidant properties commonly downregulated in infertile workers from queenright colonies and both C646 and TSA-treated workers from queenless colonies. Conclusion Our results suggest that histone acetylation is involved in the molecular regulation of worker reproduction, and thus point to an important role of histone modifications in modulating phenotypic plasticity of life history traits in social insects.

scholarly journals Zinc and Traumatic Brain Injury: From Chelation to Supplementation

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathy W. Levenson
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Incidence Rate ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Behavioral Deficits ◽  
Zinc Accumulation ◽  
Regulated Gene Expression

With a worldwide incidence rate of almost 70 million annually, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a frequent cause of both disability and death. Our modern understanding of the zinc-regulated neurochemical, cellular, and molecular mechanisms associated with TBI is the result of a continuum of research spanning more than three decades. This review describes the evolution of the field beginning with the initial landmark work on the toxicity of excess neuronal zinc accumulation after injury. It further shows how the field has expanded and shifted to include examination of the cellular pools of zinc after TBI, identification of the role of zinc in TBI-regulated gene expression and neurogenesis, and the use of zinc to prevent cognitive and behavioral deficits associated with brain injury.

scholarly journals The Relevance of MicroRNAs in the Pathogenesis and Prognosis of HCV-Disease: The Emergent Role of miR-17-92 in Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1364
Author(s):  
Serena Lorini ◽  
Laura Gragnani ◽  
Anna Linda Zignego
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Lymphoproliferative Disorders ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis ◽  
Association Analyses ◽  
Non Invasive

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem. HCV is a hepatotropic and lymphotropic virus that leads to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and lymphoproliferative disorders such as cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). The molecular mechanisms by which HCV induces these diseases are not fully understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding molecules that negatively regulate post-transcriptional gene expression by decreasing their target gene expression. We will attempt to summarize the current knowledge on the role of miRNAs in the HCV life cycle, HCV-related HCC, and lymphoproliferative disorders, focusing on both the functional effects of their deregulation as well as on their putative role as biomarkers, based on association analyses. We will also provide original new data regarding the miR 17-92 cluster in chronically infected HCV patients with and without lymphoproliferative disorders who underwent antiviral therapy. All of the cluster members were significantly upregulated in CV patients compared to patients without CV and significantly decreased in those who achieved vasculitis clinical remission after viral eradication. To conclude, miRNAs play an important role in HCV infection and related oncogenic processes, but their molecular pathways are not completely clear. In some cases, they may be potential therapeutic targets or non-invasive biomarkers of tumor progression.

scholarly journals Epigenetics of aging and disease: a brief overview

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Pagiatakis ◽  
Elettra Musolino ◽  
Rosalba Gornati ◽  
Giovanni Bernardini ◽  
Roberto Papait
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
Physiological Function ◽  
Regulate Gene Expression ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Different Tissues

AbstractAging is an important risk factor for several human diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disorders, resulting from a combination of genetic and environmental factors (e.g., diet, smoking, obesity and stress), which, at molecular level, cause changes in gene expression underlying the decline of physiological function. Epigenetics, which include mechanisms regulating gene expression independently of changes to DNA sequence, regulate gene expression by modulating the structure of chromatin or by regulating the binding of transcriptional machinery to DNA. Several studies showed that an impairment of epigenetic mechanisms promotes alteration of gene expression underlying several aging-related diseases. Alteration of these mechanisms is also linked with changes of gene expression that occurs during aging processes of different tissues. In this review, we will outline the potential role of epigenetics in the onset of two age-related pathologies, cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

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