If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Tri-CNovember 13, 2018It’s easy to think that at this point, science has it all figured out. We’ve developed genome-wide techniques to look at chromosome structure in many different contexts: from mapping chromatin interactions (Hi-C), to observing DNA-RNA interactions (SPRITE), and even identifying higher-order DNA structures (GAM). Unfortunately, none of these techniques have the resolution to look at […]
Histonagram: C. elegans Sperm Carry a Histone Memory of Spermatogenesis and OogenesisOctober 31, 2018While Instagram may have replaced the Polaroid, some age-old memories just can’t be shaken. Thankfully, the sperm epigenome of C. elegans has conjured up the latest social media trend, the histonagram: a histone based memory of spermatogenesis and oogenesis that shapes offspring fertility. Although C. elegans differ from us humans in that they don’t make use […]
H3K27ac Histone Acetylome-Wide Association Study Enhances our Knowledge of Alzheimer’s Disease BrainOctober 30, 2018When it comes to the complex disorders associated with aging, our knowledge could always use some enhancement. Thankfully, a new histone acetylome-wide association study (HAWAS) of H3K27ac establishes that this mark of active enhancers can also enhance our knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The role of histone acetylation in healthy aging and AD has begun […]
A Microbiome-Sensitive H3K4me3 Profile Predicts Intestinal Inflammation in Crohn’s DiseaseOctober 30, 2018While our microbiome serves up the metabolites required for our histone modifications, new findings establish that this agglomeration of microorganisms can also serve up a dish most foul; one that induces a severe type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) known as Crohn’s disease. Although studies have established a link between alterations to the microbiome and […]
Genome Organization Fashions an Immune-evading Parasite CoatOctober 24, 2018One might describe Trypanosoma brucei as a moderately fashionable parasite, as it changes its outer coat faster than models can strut their stuff down the exclusive catwalks in Paris or Milan! Other than making this troublesome unicellular protozoan look very sharp, its ever-changing coat helps it to keep out of reach of the host immune system […]
Go CRISPR-Go Go, This Genome Organization Study B. Good!October 18, 2018There aren’t many studies exciting enough to make you jump out your lab coat and rock’n’roll round the lab like it’s the 50s, but a recently reported new application of CRISPR might just start your toes tapping and your heads nodding. This new article does not originate from “Deep down in Louisiana close to New […]
Twins R A Help for Studying Methylation in Rheumatoid ArthritisOctober 9, 2018If you think the best thing about being an identical twin is pulling off great pranks in school, think again. Identical (monozygotic) twins can also use their powers for good. The lab of Jane Worthington (University of Manchester, UK) has harnessed the power of twins to examine DNA methylation in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Because RA […]
Colossal New Roadmap Study Provides Single-Chromosome View on Sequence-Dependent Allele-Specific MethylationOctober 7, 2018Colossal, gigantic, mammoth, immense; none of these adjectives appropriately describes the amount of research carried out or curated by the National Institute of Health Roadmap Epigenomics Mapping Consortium, whose final goal is to produce a public resource of human epigenomic data to drive forward basic biology and disease-oriented research. As part of this research, scientists […]
Egg-ceptional Role of Retrotransposon Transcription in Depositing DNA MethylationSeptember 25, 2018What do the mammalian genome and an old storage unit have in common? They’re both full of so-called junk. But unlike your aunt’s box of glass figurines, the junk in the human genome has turned out to have a lot of value. Most the “junk” in the human genome arose from retrotransposons. Long terminal repeat […]
Recycling: Keeping the Planet Green and the Histone Modification Landscape Pristine!September 22, 2018Recycling represents one of the most important strategies to keep the planet clean and green for generations to come. Used paper, metal, and plastic and other assorted detritus generally encounter a second use, but can we recycle the histone proteins that help to package our DNA and maintain cell-type-specific transcriptional programs? A lean, clean, and […]
