Darwinian Selection Acts on DNA Methylation: Persistence of 5mC Without a De Novo MethyltransferaseFebruary 18, 2020Having trouble maintaining that New Year’s resolution to stay fit? Then you might want to ask a yeast for some advice: it turns out some of their evolutionary fitness is tied to maintaining DNA methylation with a methyltransferase for millions of years. DNA methylation is a common genomic modification, present in all life and prevalent […]
ATAC-Me: An Epigenetic One-Two Combo Hits the Mark at EnhancersFebruary 16, 2020There are many ways to “attack” a problem – head-on, from the side, with great care, or swiftly and suddenly, but as many a boxer may tell you, the classic one-two combo usually works a treat. Now, in a slugfest of a new study, a rambunctious rabble of ring-ready researchers recently hit the mark and […]
A Novel lncRNA Plays Cat and MAOs with Aggressive BehaviorsFebruary 4, 2020It’s the classic dilemma — do you eat that delectable morsel of cheese now or save it for later? If you tend to lack self-control, you might be at higher risk of impulsive or aggressive behavioral disorders, which have been linked to genes in the monoamine oxidase (MAO) family. A new study from the lab […]
A Dynamic Epigenetic Editing Duo: Mutant DNMT3A and SunTag Team Up to Reduce Off-Target MethylationFebruary 4, 2020Some of the best superheroes are born out of a mutational event. It’s how Peter Parker became Spiderman, how Bruce Banner turned into the Incredible Hulk, and where the X-Men derive their powers. It just goes to show that mutations aren’t always a bad thing — a point exemplified by the new superhero team in […]
N6-methyladenosine-modified CarRNAs Hit the Epigenetic Brake on TranscriptionFebruary 3, 2020Nitrous systems, improved aerodynamics, and slick tires on your car may all help to quench your need for speed when you get behind the wheel; however, the need to slow down is just as critical in the world of gene regulation. Recently, a team of researchers has described how the modification of a racy subset […]