Independent Genomewide Screens Identify the Tumor Suppressor VTRNA2-1 as a Human Epiallele Responsive to Periconceptional Environment

The study identified VTRNA2-1 as a tumor suppressor gene and a human epiallele responsive to the periconceptional environment through independent genomewide screens. Researchers found that environmental factors, particularly maternal nutrition and the season of conception, influenced the epigenetic state of VTRNA2-1, affecting its methylation patterns. This variation was stable over at least 10 years and was not linked to genetic differences but to the maternal environment around conception. The study involved 215 Gambian children and 164 pregnant mothers, highlighting the systemic nature of VTRNA2-1 methylation variation and its potential implications for tumor suppression and long-term health outcomes.