Epigenetic features including DNA methylation and histone modifications play critical roles in the transcriptional regulation of protein-coding genes, and thereby regulate normal physiologic processes including embryonic development, aging and the development of a variety of diseases. During the past two decades, new technologies in molecular biology have enabled the discovery of non-coding RNAs - RNA transcripts that have no apparent protein product. Although these RNAs do not directly code for a protein, they still possess gene regulatory properties. Substantial evidence has demonstrated that non-coding RNA including microRNA, and epigenetic phenomena, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, serve as fundamental mechanisms in the transcriptional regulation of protein-coding genes. Recently, an increasing number of studies have shown that microRNA, DNA methylation and histone modifications also interactively regulate each other and constitute an inter-regulatory system to assure an accurate transcriptional and translational expression of protein-coding genes. DNA methylation and histone modifications regulate the expression of microRNA, conversely a subset of microRNAs called ‘epi-miRNAs’ control epigenetic machinery including the regulation of DNA methyltransferases and histone modifying enzymes. This chapter focuses on the inter-regulatory network between microRNA and epigenetic phenomena. More specifically, the nutritional regulation of these elements is discussed with the aim to provide insights into the regulation of this complex and interconnected system which orchestrates our gene expression profile, interruption of which may result in a variety of disorders.
Crosstalk between microRNAs and Epigenetics: From the Nutritional Perspective
FRISO, Simonetta;
2013-01-01
Abstract
Epigenetic features including DNA methylation and histone modifications play critical roles in the transcriptional regulation of protein-coding genes, and thereby regulate normal physiologic processes including embryonic development, aging and the development of a variety of diseases. During the past two decades, new technologies in molecular biology have enabled the discovery of non-coding RNAs - RNA transcripts that have no apparent protein product. Although these RNAs do not directly code for a protein, they still possess gene regulatory properties. Substantial evidence has demonstrated that non-coding RNA including microRNA, and epigenetic phenomena, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, serve as fundamental mechanisms in the transcriptional regulation of protein-coding genes. Recently, an increasing number of studies have shown that microRNA, DNA methylation and histone modifications also interactively regulate each other and constitute an inter-regulatory system to assure an accurate transcriptional and translational expression of protein-coding genes. DNA methylation and histone modifications regulate the expression of microRNA, conversely a subset of microRNAs called ‘epi-miRNAs’ control epigenetic machinery including the regulation of DNA methyltransferases and histone modifying enzymes. This chapter focuses on the inter-regulatory network between microRNA and epigenetic phenomena. More specifically, the nutritional regulation of these elements is discussed with the aim to provide insights into the regulation of this complex and interconnected system which orchestrates our gene expression profile, interruption of which may result in a variety of disorders.
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