Histone Variant H2A.Z Plays in Active and Repressive ElementsOctober 9, 2012In this election season, few people are on the fence about their choice for U.S. president. But histone H2A.Z seemingly votes on both sides of the transcription —hanging out at active regulatory elements and at repressive ones. Researchers in Boston figured out how H2A.Z does this, and it may have to do with the different […]
DNA Methylation Spreads its Wings…RarelyOctober 9, 2012Transposable elements are a common mover and shaker in our genomes. Much like your obnoxious friend that you have to keep close tabs on at dinner parties, they’re usually kept under wraps by fancy host silencing mechanisms like DNA methylation. There’s been some evidence that suggests that the DNA methylation that silences transposable elements can […]
Hypomethylated DNA Repeats Surface in Damaged HeartsOctober 9, 2012Repetition may help the brain learn, but it can be rough on the heart. Researchers in Cambridge, U.K. have found that DNA repeats in damaged hearts are hypomethylated, and that’s associated with increased transcription. In research they published last year, the team did the first whole-genome analysis of differential DNA methylation in so-called “end-stage cardiomyopathic […]
Conserved DNA Methylation Changes from Early Childhood ExperiencesOctober 9, 2012Our brains might not recall our early years, but increasing evidence supports that our methylomes just might. A few studies have shown that cuddles from mama rats—or a lack thereof—are known to affect their offspring’s long-term health and behavior by changing the brain’s DNA methylation patterns over a large scale. Now, a Canadian research effort […]
Bisulfite Sequencing and RRBS Get a MakeoverOctober 4, 2012As we head into fall in the northern hemi, the air gets a bit lighter, the leaves change, and improved ways to approach Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS), histone modification characterization, and bisulfite sequencing mapping emerge. Check out these three new techniques featured by our friends over at BMC in the latest issue of Genome Biology that may just […]
