Epigenetics recording varied environment and complex cell events represents the origin of cellular aging.

Epigenetics recording varied environment and complex cell events represents the origin of cellular aging. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2019 Jul;20(7):550-562 Authors: Guo XJ, Yang D, Zhang XY Abstract Although a relationship between epigenetics and aging phenotypic changes has been established, a theoretical explanation of the intrinsic connection between the epigenetics and aging is lacking. In this essay, we propose that epigenetic recording of varied cell environment and complex history could be an origin of cellular aging. Through epigenetic modifications, the environment and historical events can induce the chromatin template into an activated or repressive accessible structure, thereby shaping the DNA template into a spectrum of chromatin states. The inner nature of diversity and conflicts born by the cell environment and its historical events are hence recorded into the chromatin template. This could result in a dissipated spectrum of the chromatin state and chaos in overall gene expression. An unavoidable degradation of epigenome entropy, similar to Shannon entropy, would be consequently induced. The resultant disorder in epigenome, characterized by corrosion of epigenome entropy as reflected in chromatin template, can be stably memorized and propagated through cell division. Furthermore, the hysteretic nature of epigenetics responding to the emerging environment could exacerbate the degradation of epigenome entropy. As well as sto...
Source: J Zhejiang Univ Sci ... - Category: Science Authors: Tags: J Zhejiang Univ Sci B Source Type: research