“Epi-bit” Encoded Images of Tigers and Pandas Reveal the Epigenetic Future of DNA-based Memory StorageNovember 10, 2024A memorable musical number from Cats muses on the loss of “Memory;” however, an unforgettable new feline-related study now describes the encoding of images of tigers (and pandas!) using printed epigenetic bits (“epi-bits”) on DNA as a novel storage approach for our data and dearest recollections. Can epi-bits make any memory loss a thing of […]
eBook: CRISPR & Gene Editing 2024October 17, 2024CRISPR/Cas-mediated gene editing represents a straightforward and accurate process; however, the widespread therapeutic application of this technology still requires the precise characterization of both on- and off-target activity. In this eBook, we highlight a recent group of publications and methods using this powerful technique! Contents: Epigenetic Machinery Fights Back! SARS-CoV-2 RNA Modifications Inhibit Replication and […]
A CHARMing Epigenetic Editor Enchants Endogenous DNA Methylation Machinery to Pause Prion DiseaseJuly 8, 2024While George Clooney or Cate Blanchett exude a degree of charm, a captivating new epigenetic advance may outdo them both! A new study now describes a compact epigenetic editor known as “CHARM” that engages the cell’s own DNA methylation machinery to stop a fatal neurodegenerative disease in its tracks. A charismatic crew guided by Sonia […]
Epigenome Editing Modules Team Up to Cut Through Gene Regulatory ChaosJune 24, 2024Sometimes an indirect approach can give a direct answer. For example, two recent papers use dCas9 based epigenome editing to cut through gene regulatory mechanisms. No cutting required. These epigenomic editing toolkits use single-cell readouts to provide a clearer story of how our favorite chromatin modifications and enhancers do their jobs. Mixing and Matching Modifications […]
EvoETR Epigenome Editor Helps Maintain Cholesterol Levels by Silencing Pcsk9March 25, 2024Ever wanted to cut a bad thing out of your life? Well, perhaps the secret to success doesn’t involve any cutting (of your DNA). In some people, a mutant PCSK9 gene interferes with the liver’s job to get rid of LDL, aka “bad” cholesterol. Now, researchers have developed an all-in-one “evolved engineered transcriptional repressor” (EvoETR) […]
Bilingual Proteins Establish and Maintain Heritable Silent Chromatin DomainsFebruary 5, 2024Whether you learn through hitting the books or traveling the globe – speaking two languages has many advantages. Now, a study into the basis of gene expression regulation reports how bilingual “read-write” proteins that “speak” two epigenetic languages can help us to learn about the complex mechanisms controlling sequence-independent heritable gene silencing. The dynamic duo […]
SSSavi: Savvy Epigenome Editing with Diverse, Orderly TeamsDecember 12, 2023Bringing in the right combination of people with different perspectives and abilities can take a team to new heights. And just like that savvy diverse team, a new epigenome editing tool called the Spy-Snoop-Sun-Avi (SSSavi) system recruits diverse effector molecules in an interchangeable and orderly way to understand how combinations of DNA and histone modifications […]
A Super-specific Epigenetic Editing Strategy Silences Disease-associated Dominant MutationsNovember 22, 2023Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a “super” new study that combines the strength, ability, and ingenuity of epigenetic editing to shut down our nemesis – the disease-associated dominant mutation – while leaving the innocent bystander allele unharmed! Epigenetic superheroes led by Albert Jeltsch (University of Stuttgart) aimed to battle their […]
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 […]
