RNA Methylation in lncRNAs Does XISTApril 24, 2013Building on work from the 1970s, the era of orange shag carpet and bell bottoms, researchers report that poly(A) RNA gets methylated on cytosines, just like other RNAs and DNA. These methylated cytosines—in the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) HOTAIR and XIST—could also be important for their functions. Methylated cytosines in DNA are old news, and […]
5-hmC as a Cancer DiagnosticApril 24, 2013We’ve heard that DNA methylation can get messed up in cancer, but what about 5-hydroxymethylation (5-hmC)? In a recent report, researchers say that 5-hmC profiles could serve as epigenetic signatures of cancer. The U.K. and Swiss team wanted to know if they could zero in on a signature or biomarker for liver cancer—specifically for liver […]
Genome Editing with the CRISPR/Cas System in ZebrafishApril 24, 2013CRISPR/Cas is getting a lot of attention lately as a way to insert or delete genomic sequences in mammalian cells, but what about in model organisms? A new paper now shows that it works well in zebrafish and suggests it could be a new “go-to” method in other models as well. Last month, we told […]
Guide: Getting Started with Genome-Wide 5-mC and 5-hmC SequencingApril 10, 2013With recent advances in sample preparation, highthroughput sequencing, and bioinformatics, researchers looking to study DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation now have several options for investigating these epigenetic modifications on a genome-wide scale. The following technologies offer varying levels of resolving power, with some offering regional estimates of DNA methylation status, while others provide quantitative values at […]
Vitamin C Helps Cells Get their 5hmC OnApril 9, 2013Pass the SunnyD. According to a paper just out in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, may have a role in epigenetic regulation, specifically 5-hmC regulation. Gaofeng Wang at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and colleagues demonstrated that this critical dietary nutrient is involved in hydroxylation […]
