Epigenetic mechanisms of ovarian gene regulation

Abstract

Epigenetics refers to alterations in gene function that are heritable between generations of cells or animals and that do not involve a change in the DNA sequence itself [1]. Such alterations occur at the level of chromatin and include post-translational modifications of histone tails and methylation of DNA. In a more narrow sense, epigenetics can be used to describe chromatin altering events within a single cell or groups of cells that leads to changes in gene function in response to hormones or growth factors. This chapter will briefly describe the most common epigenetic marks and review studies of chromatin alterations as they relate to gene function in cells of the developing ovarian follicle and corpus luteum. © 2009 Springer-Verlag US.