Date of Award

5-1-2022

Language

English

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College/School/Department

Department of Biological Sciences

Content Description

1 online resource (iv, 72 pages) : illustrations (some color)

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

Bijan Dey

Committee Members

Melinda Larsen, Morgan Sammons

Keywords

epigenetics, H3K4, histone modification, methylation, muscle cells, myogenesis, Myogenesis, Muscles, Methylation

Subject Categories

Biology | Cell Biology | Developmental Biology

Abstract

Muscles are a crucial part of an organism’s wellbeing, as defects in distinct types of muscles can be lethal. Our voluntary muscles, skeletal muscles, go through distinct regeneration phases before reaching maturity. With its own pool of stem cells, muscles have a large potential for regeneration. This potential has led scientists into looking closely at the steps that lead a muscle stem cell into muscle fiber, also known as myogenesis. As a muscle cell moves through myogenesis, genes are led to be turned on/off with different epigenetic mechanisms, one being histone modifications. A methylation modification on the 4th Lysine on Histone 3 (H3K4) is a modification that has an essential role in distinct phases of myogenesis. Knocking out genes that are needed for specific methylation of H3K4 can lead to defects in muscle growth and regeneration. Studies suggest that H3K4 methylation is essential for myogenesis. I review the role of H3K4 methylation in skeletal myogenesis, muscle regeneration, and skeletal muscle diseases and disorders.

Download

Share

COinS