Epigenetics is considered by many to be the "new genetics" because of the overwhelming evidence of the contribution of non-genetic factors such as nutrition, environment, and chemical exposure on gene expression. The effects of epigenetics are vast, including tissue/organ regeneration, X-chromosome inactivation, and stem cell differentiation and genomic imprinting and aging. Aberrations of epigenetics influence many diseases for which clinical intervention is already in place, and many novel epigenetic therapies for cancer, immune disorders, neurological and metabolic disorders, and imprinting diseases are on the horizon. This comprehensive collection of reviews written by leaders in the field of epigenetics provides a broad view of this important and evolving topic. From molecular mechanisms and epigenetic technology to discoveries in human disease and clinical epigenetics, the nature and applications of the science will be presented for those with interests ranging from the fundamental basis of epigenetics to therapeutic interventions for epigenetic-based disorders.
1. Epigenetics: The New Science of Genetics SECTION I: Molecular Mechanisms of Epigenetics 2. Mechanisms of DNA Methylation, Methy-CpG Recognition, and Demethylation in Mammals 3. Mechanisms of Histone Modifications SECTION II: Additional Epigenetic Processes 4. The Epigenetics of Non-coding RNA 5. Prions and Prion-like Phenomena in Epigenetic Inheritance 6. Chromosomal Position Effects and Gene Variegation: Impact in Pathologies 7. Polycomb Mechanisms and Epigenetic Control of Gene Activity SECTION III: Epigenetic Technology 8. Analysis of Gene-specific DNA Methylation 9. Methods for Assessing Genome-wide DNA Methylation 10. Methylation of Lysine-9 of Histone H3: Role in Heterochromatin Modulation and Tumorigenesis 11. Chromatin Modifications Distinguish Genomic Features and Physical Organization of the Nucleus 12. Assessing Epigenetic Information SECTION IV: Model Organisms of Epigenetics 13. Epigenetics of Eukaryotic Microbes 14. Drosophila Epigenetics 15. Mouse Models of Epigenetic Inheritance 16. Epigenetic Regulatory Mechanisms in Plants SECTION V: Metabolism and Epigenetics 17. Metabolic Regulation of DNA Methylation in Mammals 18. Dietary and Metabolic Compounds Affecting Chromatin Dynamics/Remodeling SECTION VI: Functions of Epigenetics 19. Epigenetics, Stem Cells and Cellular Differentiation 20. Epigenetic Basis of Skeletal Muscle Regeneration 21. Epigenetics of X Chromosome Inactivation 22. Genomic Imprinting 23. Epigenetics of Memory Processes 24. Transgenerational Epigenetics 25. Aging Epigenetics SECTION VII: Evolutionary Epigenetics 26. Epigenetics in Adaptive Evolution and Development SECTION VIII: Epigenetic Epidemiology 27. The Effects of Diet on Epigenetic Processes 28. Environmental Agents and Epigenetics 29. Impact of Microbial Infections on the Human Epigenome and Carcinogenesis 30. DNA Methylation Profiles in the 5-Upstream Region of the Human FMR1 Promoter and in an Adenovirus Transgenome 31. Population Pharmacoepigenomics SECTION IX: Epigenetics and Human Disease 32. Cancer Epigenetics 33. The Role of Epigenetics in Immune Disorders 34. Epigenetics of Brain Disorders 35. Complex Metabolic Syndromes and Epigenetics 36. Imprinting Disorders in Humans SECTION X: Epigenetic Therapy 37. Clinical Applications of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors