Histone Serotonylation: From Boosting Moods to Regulating Brain Tumor ProgressionAugust 19, 2024While many know that serotonin impacts mood and emotions, a smattering of studies have found that this neurotransmitter can modify histones and regulate gene expression. Now, fascinating new research reveals that histone serotonylation contributes to the regulation of aggressive brain tumors, playing a role in the complex interactions taking place between neuron–tumor signaling, epigenetics, and […]
Epigenetics Alone Can Drive Cancer—No Mutations NeededMay 13, 2024Epigenetics has moved into the driver’s seat. In a first-of-its-kind study, a talented team show that knocking down polycomb group proteins in Drosophila causes tumors to form, and bringing the proteins back doesn’t fix it. The finding demonstrates that transient epigenetic changes can irreversibly drive cancer—without genetic mutations. Although we’ve suspected that epigenetic mechanisms could take […]
DNA Methylation Analysis Shows How Cannabis Exposure Increases the Risk of Adverse Health OutcomesDecember 11, 2023Do not risk missing a new paper describing a recent trans-ancestry epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) highlighting the significant health risks of recreational cannabis! In a fascinating new study, researchers now reveal that cannabis exposure can impact DNA methylation levels at specific regions independent of cigarette smoking to increase the risk of adverse health outcomes. Risk-averse […]
Dnmt3bas Is Inactive Dnmt3b’s Nemesis, Keeping Its Levels Low via Transcription and SplicingJuly 10, 2023The main character of many movies has a memorable nemesis who can’t help but try to bring them down and get in their way. Now, it turns out that the nemesis of the inactive Dntm3b isoform may just be development’s best friend. Before differentiation, Dnmt3b transcript levels are kept low, but get a boost at differentiation. […]
DNA Methylation Alterations Highlight Drivers of Aggressive Metastatic TumorsJuly 3, 2023The identification and early detection of events driving the metastasis of primary tumors may help identify therapeutic targets and patients that respond to specific therapeutics. Now, an epigenetic study focused on the spread of colorectal cancer to the liver reports DNA methylation as the spark driving metastatic events. Roadworthy researchers led by Euan J. Rodger, […]
Single-Molecule Methylation Profiles of Cell-Free Cancer DNA—Without Playing GamesJune 14, 2023Sometimes, you have to jump through a lot of hoops to get what you want. Hanlee Ji’s lab (Stanford) must be tired of playing those games because they’ve developed a direct single-molecule methylation nanopore sequencing approach for cell-free DNA (cfDNA) that doesn’t involve bisulfite conversion or even PCR. And yet it works on nanogram or […]
Copper Controls the Epigenetic Regulation of Inflammation? Element-ary, my Dear Watson!June 13, 2023While some problems simply need a Deerstalker and a helpful sidekick to solve, discovering the cellular processes controlling inflammation has been less of an “element-ary” task! Now, an epigenetic study (in Scarlet?) links inflammation to a mechanism involving a membrane protein, the uptake of copper, and histone modifications in macrophages! A team of epigenetic investigators […]
eBook: Epigenetics of Cancer & Disease RiskMay 3, 2023The application of epigenetic approaches to disease research is moving quickly and hundreds of new papers are published every year, from virology to neurobiology and cancer. In this eBook, we present short summaries of interesting discoveries that caught our attention in each of these areas. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Epigenetics in Disease Risk Taking […]
Active DNA Demethylation as a Source of DNA Damage at EnhancersJanuary 3, 2023Paint a self-portrait, build a house? If, instead, your more achievable New Year’s resolution was to be more active, new and exciting findings on how the abundance of single-strand DNA breaks (SSBs) at neuronal enhancers represents an intermediate of active DNA demethylation will be right down your alley! Researchers led by Wei Wu and André […]
eBook: Epigenetics & DNA MethylationNovember 21, 2022One of the longest-known and most studied epigenetic markers is DNA methylation, which can regulate gene expression and genomic organization in nearly all organisms. In eukaryotes, the primary modification of DNA is found in cytosines (C), where DNA Methyltransferases mediate the transfer of a methyl group to cytosines, converting them to 5-methylcytosine (5-mC), minor modifications […]
