Developmental origins of disease and determinants of chromatin structure: maternal diet modifies the primate fetal epigenome.

ABSTRACT: Chromatin structure is epigenetically altered via covalent modifications of histones to allow for heritable gene regulation without altering the nucleotide sequence. Multiple lines of evidence from rodents have established a role for epigenetic remodeling in regulating gene transcription in response to an altered gestational milieu. However, to date, it is unknown whether variations in the intrauterine environment in primates similarly induce changes in key determinants of hepatic chromatin structure. We hypothesized that a maternal high-fat diet would alter the epigenomic profile of the developing offspring, which would result in alterations in fetal gene expression. Age- and weight-matched adult female Japanese macaques were placed on control (13% fat) or high-fat (35% fat) breeder diets

SUBMITTER: Aagaard-Tillery KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2959100 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature