Hypomethylated DNA Repeats Surface in Damaged HeartsOctober 9, 2012Repetition may help the brain learn, but it can be rough on the heart. Researchers in Cambridge, U.K. have found that DNA repeats in damaged hearts are hypomethylated, and that’s associated with increased transcription. In research they published last year, the team did the first whole-genome analysis of differential DNA methylation in so-called “end-stage cardiomyopathic […]
Conserved DNA Methylation Changes from Early Childhood ExperiencesOctober 9, 2012Our brains might not recall our early years, but increasing evidence supports that our methylomes just might. A few studies have shown that cuddles from mama rats—or a lack thereof—are known to affect their offspring’s long-term health and behavior by changing the brain’s DNA methylation patterns over a large scale. Now, a Canadian research effort […]
New Apps: Interactive Epigenomic Data Browser and DNAm Data ToolkitsOctober 4, 2012Apple may have bombed their latest Maps integration, but the Epigenome mapping consortia out there are making it look easy by pumping out datasets by the server full. So it only makes sense that there needs to be robust software to help researchers make sense of it all. Two new papers in Genome Biology offer […]
Webinar: Early Life Determinants of Mental Health – Epigenomic Mechanisms with Dr. Patrick McGowanOctober 3, 2012Dr. Patrick McGowan discusses the impact early-life events can have on our epigenomes in this recorded webinar. This webinar is brought to you with support from Porvair Filtration Group. Check out their line of innovative ChIP kits and reagents at chromatrap.com Abstract Human epidemiological studies and studies of animal models provide many examples by which […]
Webinar: Epigenetics of Autism – The Interface Between Genetic and Environmental Risks with Dr. Janine LaSalleOctober 3, 2012Dr. Janine LaSalle discusses some of the potential epigenetics mechanisms involved in autism spectrum disorders in this recorded webinar. This webinar is brought to you with support from Porvair Filtration Group. Check out their line of innovative ChIP kits and reagents at chromatrap.com Epigenetics of Autism Autism is an increasingly common disorder of complex etiology, […]
NOMe-seq Goes Genome WideSeptember 19, 2012NOME-seq (Nucleosome Occupancy and Methylome Sequencing) made a big splash when it was introduced just over a year ago because of its novel ability to profile nucleosome positions and DNA methylation at the same time, on a single DNA strand. Now researchers from the University of Southern California Epigenome Center have powered-up the technique by […]
DNA Methylation Runs the Genomic DefenseSeptember 12, 2012Novel research findings over the last last five years have introduced more exceptions than rules in the field of DNA methylation in gene silencing. Whether DNA methylation stars as the cause or effect in the thickening regulatory plot continues to be discussed in labs around the world. A British team of researchers led by Dr. […]
More than Methyltransferases: DNMTs Run a Reverse on 5hmCAugust 20, 2012New research out of Taiwan has found some familiar enzymatic faces are involved in the pathway from 5hmC to cytosine. A talented team of scientists recently showed that two members of the DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) family, DNMT3a and DNMT3b are more than just methyltransferases; they fill a role as dehydroxymethylases as well. It has already […]
Redefining DNA Methylation in Cancer with Dr. Andrew FeinbergAugust 1, 2012Dr. Andrew Feinberg discusses how recent events are reshaping the way his team thinks about DNA methylation in cancer. This interview was shot on campus at Johns Hopkins University. This video was brought to you by epigenetics supporters at EMD Millipore. Redefining DNA Methylation in Cancer Well, there are a number of things I’m […]
Pol II Transcription Slows at 5-Formylcytosines (5caC) and 5-Carboxylcytosines (5fC)July 31, 2012It’s summertime—a time when you just want to take things slow. Researchers now report that 5-formylcytosines (5fCs) and 5-carboxylcytosines (5caCs) like to slow things down, no matter what the season. They say that these mods put the brakes on RNA Pol II transcription and make it less specific. Sure, researchers have known about 5fC and […]