Arthur Riggs, Ph.D - Account Profile
Epigenetics, Chromatin Structure, X Inactivation and Imprinting
Epigenetic changes are defined as mitotically (or meiotically) heritable changes in gene function that are not due to changes in primary base sequence. Mammalian development requires stable, somatically heritable epigenetic switches that are dependent on DNA methylation and/or chromatin structure. As evidenced by differential gene function, depending on whether a gene comes from the mother or father (parental imprinting), some epigenetic modifications are differentially engraved in male and female gametes, and these modifications affect the next generation. In 1975, I proposed DNA methylation as one epigenetic mechanism. Recently, gene knockout experiments have established that DNA methylation is necessary for mammalian development, normal parental imprinting and X chromosome inactivation. X chromosome inactivation (which results in the silencing of most genes on one of the two X chromosomes in all female mammalian cells) displays numerous epigenetic features, including parental imprinting. Also, some of the changes leading to metastatic cancer and other diseases are epigenetic in nature and involve DNA methylation. DNA methylation studies are a significant part of my research program; however, methylation is only part of the whole story for cell memory and/or parental imprinting. Therefore, my research program is broad-based and encompasses other aspects of chromatin structure-function and gene regulation. Current studies include epigenetic change in early mouse development, with a focus on demethylation mechanisms.
Scientific Interests/Keywords
Epigenetics, gene regulation
Publications
| Publication | Citation |
|---|---|
| 19955415 | Castanotto D, Lingeman R, Riggs AD, Rossi JJ CRM1 mediates nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling of mature microRNAs. (2009) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106: 21655-9 (Added 2010-08-16 13:16:32.02314) |
| 19139413 | Rauch TA, Wu X, Zhong X, Riggs AD, Pfeifer GP A human B cell methylome at 100-base pair resolution. (2009) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106: 671-8 (Added 2010-08-16 13:16:32.027785) |
| 18982300 | Chen HH, Lebon J, Riggs AD Analysis of RNA structure and RNA-protein interactions in mammalian cells by use of terminal transferase-dependent PCR. (2008) Methods Mol Biol 488: 319-41 (Added 2010-08-16 13:16:32.031567) |
| 18339804 | Shen Y, Matsuno Y, Fouse SD, Rao N, Root S, Xu R, Pellegrini M, Riggs AD, Fan G X-inactivation in female human embryonic stem cells is in a nonrandom pattern and prone to epigenetic alterations. (2008) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105: 4709-14 (Added 2010-08-16 13:16:32.035522) |
| 18162535 | Rauch TA, Zhong X, Wu X, Wang M, Kernstine KH, Wang Z, Riggs AD, Pfeifer GP High-resolution mapping of DNA hypermethylation and hypomethylation in lung cancer. (2008) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105: 252-7 (Added 2010-07-22 13:14:02.385547) |
| 17507378 | Baker DJ, Wuenschell G, Xia L, Termini J, Bates SE, Riggs AD, O'Connor TR Nucleotide excision repair eliminates unique DNA-protein cross-links from mammalian cells. (2007) J Biol Chem 282: 22592-604 (Added 2010-08-16 13:16:32.043121) |
