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Review
. 2020 Sep 22;117(38):23261-23269.
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1820838116. Epub 2019 Oct 17.

Biological embedding of experience: A primer on epigenetics

Maria J Aristizabal  1   2   3 , Ina Anreiter  1   3 , Thorhildur Halldorsdottir  4   5 , Candice L Odgers  3   6   7 , Thomas W McDade  3   8   9 , Anna Goldenberg  3   10 , Sara Mostafavi  3   11 , Michael S Kobor  2   3 , Elisabeth B Binder  3   5   12 , Marla B Sokolowski  13   3 , Kieran J O'Donnell  14   15
Affiliations
Review

Biological embedding of experience: A primer on epigenetics

Maria J Aristizabal et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. .

Abstract

Biological embedding occurs when life experience alters biological processes to affect later life health and well-being. Although extensive correlative data exist supporting the notion that epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation underlie biological embedding, causal data are lacking. We describe specific epigenetic mechanisms and their potential roles in the biological embedding of experience. We also consider the nuanced relationships between the genome, the epigenome, and gene expression. Our ability to connect biological embedding to the epigenetic landscape in its complexity is challenging and complicated by the influence of multiple factors. These include cell type, age, the timing of experience, sex, and DNA sequence. Recent advances in molecular profiling and epigenome editing, combined with the use of comparative animal and human longitudinal studies, should enable this field to transition from correlative to causal analyses.

Keywords: biological embedding of experience; epigenetic mechanisms; epigenome; gene–environment interplay; translational research.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Complex landscape of epigenetic mechanisms. (A) DNA can be modified at cytosine and adenine residues by the addition of chemical groups. Cytosines can be modified by methylation, hydroxymethylation (hmC), formylation (fC), and carboxylation (caC), while adenines are modified by methylation. (B) Nucleosomes, composed of DNA wrapped around histone proteins, can change position to increase or decrease DNA accessibility. In addition, nucleosomes can be modified by the incorporation of histone variants and the addition of posttranslational modifications. (C) Noncoding RNAs play an important role in transcription regulation and are sometimes considered an epigenetic mechanism. Within RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs), miRNAs mediate the recognition and binding of RNAs that become targeted for degradation. lncRNAs are associated with other complexes and can activate or repress transcription. (D) All RNA nucleotides can be modified by the addition of chemical groups. The list of RNA modifications includes N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and over 160 other chemical modifications.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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