Reprogramming Helps to “Turn Back Time” on the Epigenetic Clock and Restore Lost VisionDecember 14, 2020Back in the days of big hair and masses of leather, Cher wanted to “turn back time” if she could find a way! Well, get your stockings and suspenders ready and head for the docks, as her eighties “vision” may be on the cusp of coming true with the help of epigenetic reprogramming! Specifically, resear-Cher-s […]
Blame the Brain on Cocaine: DNA Methylation Alters 3D Chromatin TerrainDecember 8, 2020Although studies of DNA methylation and its impact on chromatin architecture leave us with quite the buzz, this latest one adds a bit of cocaine to the mix to give it an extra kick. This stimulating study found cocaine use reduced DNA methylation at a key gene to change CTCF binding and alter 3D chromatin […]
Epigenetic Silencing of the Y-chromosome Controls the Extent of Male ToxicityDecember 7, 2020While “toxic masculinity” may seem intimately linked to the human species, the fruit fly Drosophila has come to show us that their Y-chromosome acts as a source of genomic male “toxicity” that epigenetic silencing keeps in check. Specifically, we know that the formation of silent heterochromatin domains during development represses the activity of transposable elements […]
Histone Methylation Takes Center Stage in the Genetic Tale of Transgenerational Epigenetic InheritanceDecember 4, 2020While DNA methylation and distinct RNA species have hogged the limelight in the ongoing tale of paternal epigenetic inheritance, a genetic mouse model now casts histone methylation as a leading player in this gripping transgenerational story. A previous study led by Sarah Kimmins (McGill University, Montreal, Canada) found that reduced H3 lysine 4 dimethylation (H3K4me2) in […]
The Powerhouse Of The Cell Is At It Again! Mighty Mitochondria Modify DNA Methylation and MortalityNovember 24, 2020If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell. Adding to this prowess is a new finding showing that the amount of mitochondrial DNA impacts nuclear DNA methylation and gene expression, ultimately influencing mortality and cardiovascular disease. While we’ve seen how mutant mitochondria can influence histone […]
