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ToxSci Advance Access originally published online on August 3, 2007
Toxicological Sciences 2007 100(1):7-23; doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfm177
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Toxicology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

The Dynamic Epigenome and its Implications in Toxicology

Moshe Szyf1

Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Sir William Osler Promenade, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada

1 For correspondence via fax: 1-514-398-6690. E-mail: moshe.szyf{at}mcgill.ca

Received May 6, 2007; accepted July 6, 2007


  Abstract

The epigenome serves as an interface between the dynamic environment and the inherited static genome. The epigenome is comprised of chromatin and a covalent modification of DNA by methylation. The epigenome is sculpted during development to shape the diversity of gene expression programs in the different cell types of the organism by a highly organized process. Epigenetic aberrations have similar consequences to genetic polymorphisms resulting in variations in gene function. Recent data suggest that the epigenome is dynamic and is therefore responsive to environmental signals not only during the critical periods in development but also later in life as well. It is postulated here that not only chemicals but also exposure to social behavior, such as maternal care, could affect the epigenome. It is proposed that exposures to different environmental agents could lead to interindividual phenotypic diversity as well as differential susceptibility to disease and behavioral pathologies. Interindividual differences in the epigenetic state could also affect susceptibility to xenobiotics. Although our current understanding of how epigenetic mechanisms impact on the toxic action of xenobiotics is very limited, it is anticipated that in the future, epigenetics will be incorporated in the assessment of the safety of chemicals.

Key Words: DNA methylation; DNA demethylation; anti cancer agents; epigenetics; chromatin structure; chromatin modification; histone acetylation; histone methylation; histone acetyltransferase; histone deacetylase; histone methyltransferase; DNA methyltransferase; DNA demethylase; global hypomethylation; HDAC inhibitors.


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