The importance of DNA methylation in response to environmental changes

DNA甲基化在应对环境变化中的重要性

• 批准号: DP160103559
• 负责人: Prof Margaret Morris
• 金额: $ 25.55万
• 依托单位: The University of New South Wales
• 依托单位国家: 澳大利亚
• 项目类别: Discovery Projects
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 澳大利亚
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://dataportal.arc.gov.au/RGS/Web/Grants/DP160103559
• 关键词: importance; DNA; methylation; response; environmental

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.

该项目旨在研究DNA甲基化的重要性，这是一个在不改变DNA密码的情况下改变基因表达的过程，可以调节我们对环境挑战的反应。它计划使用经过充分验证的成年小鼠暴露于高脂肪饮食或心理压力的模型以及主要甲基化酶的组织特异性（肝脏和大脑）缺失。它旨在比较完整和甲基化酶缺失动物在这种挑战后的功能，基因表达和甲基化状态，以确定这一过程的重要性。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具有重要意义，特别是在变化时期。