Biology 1202B Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Methyl Group, Epigenetics, Euchromatin
15 Jun 2016
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Document Summary
Modifications to dna that do not affect the sequence on top of the genetics. Epigenetic mechanisms are affected by these factors and processes: development, environmental chemicals, drugs/pharmaceuticals, aging, diet. Dna methylation- the methyl group can tag dna and activate or repress genes. Histones are proteins around which dna can wind for compaction and genes. Histone modification: the binding of epigenetics factors to histone tails alters the extent to which dna is wrapped around histones and the availability of genes in the dna to be activated. Health endpoints: cancer, autoimmune disease, mental disorders, diabetes. Euchromatin loosely packed, can be transcribed. Histones are modified by methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation and other modfications. Combinations of specific histone modifications define the function of local regions of chromatin. Hp1 is the key protein in forming mammalian heterochromatin and acts by binding to methylated histone h3: propagates heterochromatin formation.
