Helle F Jørgensen, Véronique Azuara, Shannon Amoils, Mikhail Spivakov, Anna Terry, Tatyana Nesterova, Bradley S Cobb, Bernard Ramsahoye, Matthias Merkenschlager, and Amanda G Fisher
Abstract:
Background
The time of locus replication during S-phase is tightly regulated and correlates with chromatin state. Embryonic stem (ES) cells have an unusual chromatin profile where many developmental regulator genes that are not yet expressed are marked by both active and repressive histone modifications. This poised or bivalent state is also characterized by locus replication in early S-phase in ES cells, while replication timing is delayed in cells with restricted developmental options.