Epigenetic Assays Get Clinical: Comparison of DNA Methylation Assays and MoreJune 27, 2016Four new papers co-published by an international consortium demonstrate and further the clinical potential of epigenetic assays. The series of manuscripts was led by Christoph Bock (CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences) and Stephan Beck (University College London). Comparison of DNA Methylation Assays Suited for the Clinic While there […]
Evolution Uses Bivalent Chromatin to Control Mammalian DevelopmentJune 22, 2016A big event always requires a bit of prior preparation, and for evolution, mammalian development is no exception. The mammalian body plans have undergone massive evolutionary rearrangements and diversifications requiring the evolution of complex gene expression profiles. Recent studies in specific tissues in mammalian species have now linked these expression changes to the evolution of […]
Enjoy Chromatin Highs and Lows with Chromatrap®’s ChIP-Seq KitsJune 17, 2016Chromatin analysis experiments can be a roller coaster of emotion. One moment you’re flying high and the next you’re in a troubleshooting inferno. Fortunately, there has been quite a bit of competition to fine-tune nearly every portion of the ChIP sequencing workflow over the last few years, and those advancements are now benefitting researchers like […]
The Mixed Messages of Bivalent ChromatinJune 14, 2016Navigating the epigenetic landscape is no easy feat. Clear markings and smooth rides through its canals can quickly give way to a hectic hodgepodge of mixed signals and uncertain routes. A great example is bivalent chromatin, which contains marks of both activation and repression. Characterized by Bernstein et al. in 2006, the most studied bivalent […]
From Brains to Bone – How Oncohistones Cause TumorigenesisJune 7, 2016A flurry of studies over recent years has revealed a significant link between mutations in histone H3 genes and tumorigenesis, although how such H3 mutations (or “oncohistones”) mediate tumorigenesis had only been assessed in certain brain tumors. However, two new studies in Science have now revealed how oncohistones can promote tumorigenesis in mesenchymal tissues, which […]
Trifecta of Epigenetic Methylation Reveals a Long-Term Profile of Fetal Alcohol ExposureMay 6, 2016During this time of the year, it’s easy to get caught up in landscaping. Regardless of whether your landscaping is of the epigenetic or garden variety, it seems that either way we can all benefit from the wisdom of the old saying, “can’t see the forest for the trees”. Sometimes we just get so caught […]
Liquid Biopsies Reveal More than Sequence: The Epigenomics of Circulating Cell-Free DNAMay 6, 2016Every good captain knows that when your ship is in distress, you send out an SOS. Now, two new papers now leave us wondering if that tactic is borrowed from diseased tissues. Many diseases are characterized by cell death that releases circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) into the blood stream, which can now be analyzed in […]
Cas9 Magic Opens Locked ChromatinMay 2, 2016For all the hoopla over CRISPR/Cas9 and its mystical powers, the system still hasn’t passed the most basic test of any magic talisman – waving it over a locked gate while chanting “open sesame”! Fortunately, a band of scientists led by Amira Barkal and Richard Sherwood have now vindicated CRISPR’s powers, using it to open […]
EZH2 Makes Distinguishing Aggressive Basal Cell Carcinoma Tumors EZerApril 21, 2016When it comes to the epigenetics of cancer, there isn’t much that’s easy when trying to understand what makes a tumor; but now a talented team from the University of Michigan has just made understating it all that much EZer. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer in people of Caucasian descent. Most […]
Redefining Cancer and Stem Cell Reprogramming: Epigenetic Modulators, Modifiers, and MediatorsApril 9, 2016Back in 2006, Andrew Feinberg & Co. brought forth a review that pioneered the concept of tumor progenitor genes, which are genes involved in stem cell reprogramming and cancer. These tumor progenitor genes are epigenetically deregulated at the earliest stage of cancer. The epigenetic variation occurs before mutations, can be seen in normal tissue surrounding […]