Open AccessDNA methylation in obesity
Author(s) -
Małgorzata Pokrywka,
Beata KiećWilk,
Anna Polus,
Iwona Wybrańska
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
postępy higieny i medycyny doświadczalnej
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.275
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1732-2693
pISSN - 0032-5449
DOI - 10.5604/17322693.1130084
Subject(s) - epigenetics , dna methylation , obesity , biology , genetics , histone , bioinformatics , medicine , gene , endocrinology , gene expression
The number of overweight and obese people is increasing at an alarming rate, especially in the developed and developing countries. Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, and in consequence for premature death. The development of obesity results from the interplay of both genetic and environmental factors, which include sedentary life style and abnormal eating habits. In the past few years a number of events accompanying obesity, affecting expression of genes which are not directly connected with the DNA base sequence (e.g. epigenetic changes), have been described. Epigenetic processes include DNA methylation, histone modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and sumoylation, as well as non-coding micro-RNA (miRNA) synthesis. In this review, the known changes in the profile of DNA methylation as a factor affecting obesity and its complications are described.