Epigenetic modifications unlock the milk protein gene loci during mouse mammary gland development and differentiation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Unlike other tissues, development and differentiation of the mammary gland occur mostly after birth. The roles of systemic hormones and local growth factors important for this development and functional differentiation are well-studied. In other tissues, it has been shown that chromatin organization plays a key role in transcriptional regulation and underlies epigenetic regulation during development and differentiation. However, the role of chromatin organization in mammary gland development and differentiation is less well-defined. Here, we have studied the changes in chromatin organization at the milk protein gene loci (casein, whey acidic protein, and others) in the mouse mammary gland before and after functional differentiation.

Methodology/principal findings

SUBMITTER: Rijnkels M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3534698 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature