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 […]
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 […]
Now In Print! – New Technologies Leave their Mark on Imprinting Control RegionsJune 19, 2022Genomic imprinting typically lets our parents leave their mark on our genomes; however, new technological advances are now allowing us to leave our mark on imprinting! The first of our epigenetic exposés that went into print reports on how multiple modalities uncovered complex epigenetic crosstalk that regulates allele-specific gene expression at potential imprinting control regions […]
Epigenetic Editing Approach Causally Connects Adolescent Alcohol Exposure to Psychiatric Disorder RiskMay 23, 2022The modularity of current epigenetic editing technology allows us to evaluate the causality of connections from multiple angles. Now, epigenetic editing in rats using dCas9 activators and repressors has provided a welcome new perspective on how adolescent drinking can induce the onset of psychiatric conditions in adults. Binge drinking during adolescence (a critical period for […]
CRISPRon, CRISPRoff… Two New Tools to Earn You the Black Belt in Hit-and-Run Epigenetic EditingMay 17, 2021Power, accuracy, and stability are the three tenets of hit-and-run epigenetic editing that every aspiring black belt must learn to master. To aid our quest, masters from the dojos of Luke Gilbert (University of California, San Francisco) and Jonathan Weissman (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) have come forth with not only new mantra but also a new set […]
