The importance of DNA methylation in response to environmental changes

该项目旨在研究DNA甲基化在调节我们对环境挑战的反应中的重要性，甲基化是一种可以在不改变DNA密码的情况下改变基因表达的过程。该研究计划使用经过充分验证的模型来实现这一目标，这些模型包括成年小鼠暴露于高脂肪饮食或心理压力，以及主要甲基化酶的组织特异性缺失（肝脏和大脑）。它的目的是比较完整和甲基化酶缺失的动物在这种挑战后的功能、基因表达和甲基化状态，以确定这一过程到底有多重要。这项工作对我们理解表观遗传学，以及基因与环境相互作用的方式，特别是在变化的时代，具有重大意义。

This project aims to investigate the importance of DNA methylation, a process whereby gene expression can be altered without changes in the DNA code, in regulating our responses to environmental challenges. It plans to do so using well-validated models of adult exposure to high fat diet or psychological stress in mice and tissue-specific (liver and brain) deletion of the major methylation enzymes. It aims to compare functional, gene expression and methylation status after such challenges in intact and methylase deleted animals to determine how vital this process really is. This work has major implications for our understanding of epigenetics, and the ways in which genes interact with the environment especially in times of change.