Abstract
Germ cells possess the extraordinary and unique capacity to give rise to a new organism and create an enduring link between all generations. To acquire this property, primordial germ cells (PGCs) transit through an unprecedented programme of sequential epigenetic events that culminates in an epigenomic basal state that is the foundation of totipotency. This process is underpinned by genome-wide DNA demethylation, which may occur through several overlapping pathways, including conversion to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. We propose that the epigenetic programme in PGCs operates through multiple parallel mechanisms to ensure robustness at the level of individual cells while also being flexible through functional redundancy to guarantee high fidelity of the process. Gaining a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that direct epigenetic reprogramming in PGCs will enhance our ability to manipulate epigenetic memory, cell-fate decisions and applications in regenerative medicine.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Tidsskrift | Trends in Genetics |
| Vol/bind | 28 |
| Udgave nummer | 4 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 164-174 |
| Antal sider | 11 |
| ISSN | 0168-9525 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - apr. 2012 |
Bibliografisk note
Funding Information:We would like to thank Roopsha Sengupta and Harry Leitch for critical reading of the manuscript and to apologise to the authors whose work could not be cited here owing to space constraints. JAH was funded by a Wellcome Trust Grant and JJZ is the recipient of a Wellcome Trust PhD Scholarship. MAS is supported by The Wellcome Trust (RG49135).