[Epigenetics and Life-style diseases].

Abstract

Genomic DNA in eukaryotes forms a highly-organized structure called chromatin. Epigenetic regulation of genes involves DNA methylation and modifications of the histone tails such as acetylation and methylation, which lead to a given phenotype without a change in nucleotide sequence. Both genetic and environmental factors play important roles in the development of life-style diseases. Epigenetic regulation is implicated to contribute to the interplay between the environmental and genetic factors. Advance in DNA sequencing technologies provides novel insights into transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of the genes and mechanisms by which genomic polymorphism causes diseases. We will overview recent progress in the epigenetic studies on life-style diseases.