PRC2 mediates paternal epigenetic inheritance: comparison of wild-type embryos

Determining the mechanisms that establish and regulate the transmission of non-genetic (i.e. epigenetic) information from parent to offspring is critical for understanding disease heredity. Using an innovative model to assess transmission of epigenetic effects, we provide evidence that Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) mediates inheritance through the male germline. This study reveals a novel role for histone modifying complexes in epigenetic inheritance, with important implications for understanding disease inheritance. Comparison of gene expression in E8.5 embryos with the same wild-type genotype, produced from heterozygous (n=4) and wild-type (n=4) Eedl7Rn5-1989SB fathers reveal differences in gene expression possibly due to altered epigenetic patterning in the sperm.阐明建立并调控亲代向子代传递非遗传（即表观遗传）信息的机制，对于理解疾病遗传规律至关重要。本研究采用创新性模型评估表观遗传效应的传递过程，证实多梳抑制复合体2（Polycomb Repressive Complex 2，PRC2）可通过雄性生殖系介导遗传信息传递。本研究揭示了组蛋白修饰复合体在表观遗传继承中的全新功能，这对理解疾病遗传机制具有重要意义。对由杂合子（n=4）与野生型（n=4）Eedl7Rn5-1989SB雄性父本所产生的、携带相同野生型基因型的E8.5胚胎进行基因表达对比后发现，其基因表达存在差异，该差异可能源于精子中表观遗传模式的改变。