DNA Methylation Editing Provides Evidence for Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance in MammalsFebruary 26, 2023While we have become familiar with the link between DNA methylation and disease, an exciting epigenetic editing study now reports how DNA methylation contributes to transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in mammals and influences disease-associated traits across generations! In their previous study, a talented team led by Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte at the Salk Institute for Biological […]
Multiplexed Epigenome Editing Rouses a “Sleeping Dog” to Treat a Neurodevelopmental DisorderFebruary 20, 2023“Let sleeping dogs lie” is sound advice for those who want to stay out of trouble! However, an eye-opening epigenome editing study now suggests that rousing the “sleeping” methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene from the inactive X chromosome may represent a therapeutic opportunity for girls with Rett Syndrome – an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder that […]
One More Reason to Eat Your Wheaties: Your Microbiome and Histone AcetylationFebruary 7, 2023We all know how important it is to eat fiber, whether in the form of fruits and veggies, or even a big bowl of fiber-rich cereal. Now, research from Ben Garcia’s lab (WUSTL) gives us one more reason to eat our Wheaties—our gut microbiome needs it to acetylate histones and possibly ward off diseases like […]
Chem-map: A New “GPS” to Pinpoint Where Small Molecules Bind ChromatinFebruary 7, 2023With all the GPS trackers and map apps out there, it’s almost impossible to get lost. But even though we know what a lot of small molecules are doing, we can lose track of exactly where those molecules are. That’s why Shankar Balasubramanian’s lab (University of Cambridge) developed Chem-map. Knowing this info could help researchers […]
You Aren’t Going Crazy – Losing It at the Epigenetic Level Really Drives Aging!February 6, 2023Information loss can drive us crazy – from ruining a potential culinary masterpiece to turning a Lego-building afternoon into a nightmare, but can “losing it” at the epigenetic level drive aging and turn a young whippersnapper into an old fogey? We know all too well about age-related epigenetic changes, and now a team led by […]
Taking “CoRSIV” Writing from Short Notes to “Novel” Epigenetic Findings in Disease RiskJanuary 30, 2023Previously, a perfectly-penned study uncovered a type of DNA methylation variation “written” in the genome, which varies from person to person but remains consistent across tissues. Deciphering these “CoRSIV” (correlated regions of systemic interindividual variation) notes supported a deeper understanding of epigenetic variance and the impact on disease, with blood DNA methylation profiles from these […]
scChIX-seq Brings Double the Fun to Single-Cell Histone Modification ProfilingJanuary 23, 2023How do you double your fun? An extra scoop of ice cream, coffee and a cake, or the epigenetic delights of single-cell profiling of not one but two histone modifications? In the latter case, the scChIX-seq (single-cell chromatin immunocleavage and unmixing sequencing) integrated framework may represent a wise choice for those looking to indulge while […]
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 […]
Can Engineering Chromodomains Take Histone Methylation to “Affinity” and Beyond!?December 4, 2022The troupe of “toys” we use to explore the world of histone methylation just gained a new friend thanks to a playful team of epigenetic engineers who have taken histone modification-reading chromodomains to “affinity” and beyond! Researchers led by Gianluca Veggiani (Louisiana State University, USA) and Sachdev Sidhu (University of Waterloo, Canada) knew that histone-modification […]
Can New RNA Modification Profiling Tools Help in Your Epitranscriptomic Bid for Glory?November 21, 2022Two new sequencing methods may just make your day if you happen to be bidding for glorious insights into the epitranscriptome. Inspired by the bisulfite conversion used to assay DNA methylation, BID-seq and GLORI now enable single-nucleotide transcriptome-wide profiling of two crucial RNA modifications – N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and pseudouridine (the C5-glycoside isomer of uridine). RNA […]
