Epigenetic Regulation and Measurement of Epigenetic Changes

Kimberly E. Stephens, Christine A. Miaskowski, Jon D. Levine, Clive R. Pullinger, Bradley E. Aouizerat

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Epigenetic mechanisms provide an adaptive layer of control in the regulation of gene expression that enables an organism to adjust to a changing environment. Epigenetic regulation increases the functional complexity of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by altering chromatin structure, nuclear organization, and transcript stability. These changes may additively or synergistically influence gene expression and result in long-term molecular and functional consequences independent of the DNA sequence that may ultimately define an individual's phenotype. This article (1) describes histone modification, DNA methylation, and expression of small noncoding RNA species; (2) reviews the most common methods used to measure these epigenetic changes; and (3) presents factors that need to be considered when choosing a specific tissue to evaluate for epigenetic changes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)373-381
Number of pages9
JournalBiological Research for Nursing
Volume15
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2013

Keywords

  • DNA methylation
  • epigenetics
  • histone modification
  • small untranslated RNA

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Research and Theory

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