CpG Island (R)EvolutionJune 2, 2011CpG islands and their methylation patterns are the epigeneticists bread and butter, and it’s been assumed by many that there are evolutionary reasons behind their existence. New data suggests that not all CpG islands were created equal, and much like Donald Trump’s hair, can’t entirely be explained by natural selection. High-powered researchers from the Weizmann […]
Posttraumatic Stress Risk Altered by DNA MethylationJune 1, 2011After nearly a decade of sending troops into harms way, the U.S. is now coping with the aftermath that those situations can create for our armed forces, like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). So it’s nice to see progress made towards understanding that condition. While many people are exposed to traumatic events, only a fraction will develop […]
EpiGenie 5-hmC Round-upJune 1, 2011We’re not entirely sure what the enigmatic base variant 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) does or why it’s important yet, but we do know it’s become one of our favorite epigenetic topics. Whether you’re a 5-hmC newbie, or just need a quick refresher, you’ll want to check out our favorite articles we’ve featured on the subject. Hydroxymethylcytosine Shakes […]
Histone Tails Take the Lead In De Novo MethylationMay 29, 2011“Newborn” (or de novo) DNA sequences come into this world just like newborn human babies—naked. So, how do new sequences get their DNA methylation on? Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences say they’ve figured out what happens after the histones settle in: H3 tails that lack methylation at K4 bind to and activate de […]
ATP-Dependent Factors Help Nucleosomes Get OrganizedMay 19, 2011Those of us with messy desks or bench spaces know how difficult it can be to get organized. But don’t feel bad–a new paper in Science suggests that nucleosomes need help from “professional organizers” to form nice, evenly spaced arrays in gene promoters. For decades now, researchers have been trying to figure out how nucleosomes […]
