Activity Matters: Enhancing our Understanding of Brain MaturationSeptember 29, 2020While epigenetic studies have shown us that the past sculpts the future, the mechanisms have remained a cognitive conundrum, particularly when it comes the developing brain. Thankfully, a stimulating new study has come forth to show how early-life brain activity flips a switch that establishes cell-type specific enhancers for life. To prime our brains with this […]
The One With All The Brand New Methylation FactorsSeptember 22, 2020Could there BE anymore genes affecting DNA methylation? Actually, yes! We always hear about the main cast of the methylation show, the DNMTs and the TETs, but where are all the supporting actors that attract, repel or otherwise interact with these stars? A new show (study) from the studio (lab) of Bastiaan Heijmans (Leiden University […]
C.elegans Studies Worm into the Fundamentals of Transgenerational Epigenetic InheritanceSeptember 21, 2020While a “bird’s-eye view” of a topic can often provide colossal insight, the opposite perspective can sometimes be just as useful! Recently, two fascinating studies of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance have taken a “worm’s-eye view” of this research area to deepen our understanding of this complex mechanism in the model nematode worm C. elegans. C. elegans […]
Choosing Sides: Tsix RNA Decapping Initiates the X Chromosome Inactivation CascadeSeptember 9, 2020When it comes to X inactivation there are a huge number of studies that eXist. Despite being one of the best-studied epigenetic phenomena, the molecular decision making process behind the initiation of X chromosome inactivation (XCI) had remained far from fully understood. The regulation of the long non-coding RNA Xist initiates XCI. Xist’s antisense partner […]
A TET1 Thermostat Cranks up the Heat in Beige AdipocytesSeptember 9, 2020Many of us eagerly reach for the thermostat to crank up the heat a little as summer turns to fall, and now, a team of red-hot researchers studying heat generation in adipose tissue have discovered that the ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1) DNA demethylase forms part of an epigenetic thermostat that could provide a means to […]
