An expression microarray approach for the identification of metastable epialleles in the mouse genome.

ABSTRACT: Genetic loci displaying environmentally responsive epigenetic marks, termed metastable epialleles, offer a solution to the paradox presented by genetically identical yet phenotypically distinct individuals. The murine viable yellow agouti (A (vy) ) metastable epiallele exhibits stochastic DNA methylation and histone modifications associated with coat color variation in isogenic individuals. The distribution of A (vy)  variable expressivity shifts following maternal nutritional and environmental exposures. To characterize additional murine metastable epialleles, we utilized genome-wide expression arrays (N = 10 male individuals, 3 tissues per individual) and identified candidates displaying large variability in gene expression among individuals (Vi = inter-individual variance), concomitant

SUBMITTER: Weinhouse C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3225746 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature