Extra-Coding RNAs (ecRNAs) Sculpt Dynamic DNA Methylation of the BrainJuly 18, 2016We’ve got our mind on methylation and methylation in our mind, but we are often left wondering how DNA methylation got there in the first place. Well, that cognitive tongue twister has now been cracked by a class of RNA that likes to interact with DNA methyltransferases. Extra coding RNAs (ecRNAs) originate from the sense […]
Hey Methylation, Thanks for the MemoriesJuly 18, 2016Memories; we all have some we would rather forget, and some that we will hold onto forever. But how exactly is memory formed and what are the biochemical pathways that are in play? Recent studies have indicated that RNA and DNA adenosine methylation are important for the conversion of experiences, both good and bad, into […]
scAba-seq: Single-Cell, Genome-Wide, and Strand-Specific 5hmC SequencingJuly 6, 2016Usually, you don’t want your genome sequencing served up with a sugar coating; however, thanks to a clever a new 5hmC sequencing technique, we can indulge in some sweet single-cell and strand-specific insight. The study of 5hmC (5-Hydroxymethylcytosine) prevalence in DNA typically involves utilizing modified bisulfite sequencing, 5hmC specific antibodies, or restriction enzymes. Aba-seq makes […]
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 […]
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 […]
Promiscuous Bacteria Swap EpigeneticsMay 20, 2016Humans have good reasons to worry about our epigenetics. DNA decorations have big impacts on our gene expression and health, and we can inadvertently change them through such lifestyle choices as smoking, having parents, or getting old. We multicellular organisms can, at least, breathe easy that epigenetics aren’t contagious, but it turns out the same […]
Age, Sequence, and DNA Methylation are Culprits of Lactose IntoleranceMay 20, 2016While fine wine and aged cheese are culinary delights, some of us who dine on dairy often start to go a bit ‘sour’ with age and develop lactose intolerance. Thankfully, to aid our mental digestion of such a foul fate, a collaborative effort between Toronto and Lithuania has shown the molecular mechanism of why we can […]
On Demand Demethylation with dCas9-TET1May 16, 2016Every researcher loves a good tool, and lately, it seems that CRISPR might be an even more modular tool than PCR. Attesting to the modularity of CRISPR/Cas9 is catalytically deactivated Cas9 (dCas9). dCas9 has the precision of Cas9, when combined with sgRNA, and can be fused to a modular effector domain that allows for extra […]
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 […]