EZH2 Gets a TAD Involved in CancerFebruary 26, 2019In the Venn diagram of epigenetics and cancer biology, EZH2 sits perfectly in the overlap. This methyltransferase is responsible for tri-methylation of lysine 27 on histone 3 (H3K27me3) but is also an oncogene, mutated in a variety ofhumancancers. H3K27me3 is a marker of inactive chromatin domains, specifically topologically associating domains (TADs), and has been linked to […]
Epigenetic Editing with CRISPR Keeps Crops Crisp in Today’s ClimateFebruary 25, 2019While the crisper drawer of our fridge is the best way to keep our produce fresh, epigenetic editing research now brings forth CRISPR-based manipulation of DNA methylation to keep our crops crisp. This tasty treat comes at you in the form of two new publications from the lab of Steven Jacobsen (UCLA), where the talented team expand […]
When Two Is Not Better Than One: Duplicitous Dipeptides Disrupt Heterochromatin to Promote NeurodegenerationFebruary 25, 2019While some protein aficionados may believe that the only thing better than one peptide is a dipeptide, a study from the lab of Leonard Petrucelli (Mayo Clinic, USA) recently established that the expansion of double-dealing dipeptide repeats promotes the development of neurodegenerative disease via the disruption of heterochromatin structure and function. The diseases in question, […]
Orange You Glad for Methylation’s Role in Fruit Ripening?February 12, 2019If you like to start your day with a glass of orange juice, you can thank epigenetics for that. More specifically, you can thank DNA methylation, since it’s been recently shown to play a crucial role in the ripening process of the sweet orange fruit. The collaborative efforts of Jian-Kang Zhu at Purdue University (Indiana, […]
Histone Methyltransferase Loss Disconnects the Autistic BrainFebruary 12, 2019Connection and communication represent two crucial concepts in the massive and complex network that is the mammalian brain; therefore, the disruption of neural connections during early development may promote the onset of neurodevelopmental disorders. Previous studies have linked the histone methyltransferase SETD5 with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which inspired researchers from the lab of Alysson […]
ChIP-seq SNFs Out the Epigenomic Impact of SWI/SNF Loss in Paediatric Brain TumorsFebruary 8, 2019Cancer researchers have been SNFing around the role of the SWI/SNF complex for a long time. By SWItching to a ChIP-seq approach, novel details about how biallelic loss of a key gene promotes a cancerous epigenome have been uncovered. SWI/SNF (or BAF) is a chromatin remodeling complex and a key regulator of early development that […]
Too Much Tau Over Relaxes Chromatin in Neurons in Aging and Alzheimer’s BrainsFebruary 3, 2019Taking a break can be a great thing for our aging brains, it gives us a chance to unwind and open ourselves up to new ideas. However, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing, where overly relaxed chromatin can wreak havoc on an aging neuron and drive pathological changes! One of the […]
LncRNA-mediated Trisomy Silencing: Is the Reversal of Down Syndrome-associated Disease Just an Epigenetic Switch Away?January 24, 2019While “the rule of three” principle may make three the magic number for fairy tales and Hollywood blockbusters, trisomy of chromosome 21 causes Down syndrome (DS) and leads to the development of a range of severe associated disease and disorders in affected patients. However, research out of the laboratory of Jeanne B. Lawrence (University of […]
Teasing Apart the Brain: DNA Methylation Maps of Healthy Neurons Implicate Brain Region Differences in Psychiatric DisordersJanuary 24, 2019While conducting epigenomics research, we are often faced with a number of brain teasers. To solve these cognitive conundrums, many of us turn to diseases and disorders to learn about healthy conditions. However, the methylation maestros in the labs of Andrew Feinberg and Kasper Hansen at John Hopkins University (Maryland, USA) now demonstrate the utility of […]
Monkey Memes: Social Status Epigenetically Primes a Stress-Responsive Chromatin ProfileJanuary 15, 2019Are you constantly checking your Twitter/Instagram/Reddit feeds for the newest memes and best cat videos to share for the most likes? Well, don’t spend too much time stressing over your social media status; especially if you are a rhesus macaque, because new research suggests your immune cells might take a major epigenetic hit if you’re […]