Role of DNA replication in establishment and propagation of epigenetic states of chromatin

- DNA replication is asymmetric, bidirectional, semi-discontinuous and semi-conservative.
- In eukaryotes, DNA is organized as heritable euchromatin or heterochromatin structures with specific histone modifications.
- The inheritance of these stable epigenetic states of chromatin is coupled to DNA replication.
- Asymmetric cell division during developmental switches is coupled to asymmetry of DNA replication.
- Chromatin remodeling/assembly factors interact with DNA replication factors to propagate the epigenetic chromatin states.