New Single-cell CRISPR Screens “ATAC” Chromatin AccessibilityJune 6, 2021Have you been struggling to agree on a plan of action for your recent epigenetic experiments? Have you been fighting over just what strategy to use to decipher how genetic alterations affect the epigenetic landscape? While we should all follow John and Yoko’s example and try to give peace a chance, you sometimes need to […]
dCas9-dMSK1 Provides the Potent Power of Programmable Histone PhosphorylationFebruary 20, 2021Time to move over histone methylation, the potent activating power of programmable histone phosphorylation joins the dCas9 epigenome editing toolbox and shows how it takes histone acetylation along for the ride. A rather active team of researchers led by Isaac B. Hilton (Rice University, Houston, TX, USA) knew that phosphorylation represents one of the most […]
Big Things Come in Small Packages: Nanobodies Enter the Epigenetic Editing RingFebruary 4, 2021While we have seen many contenders for the title of heavyweight champion in the epigenetic editing ring, the adage “big things come in small packages” has taken on a new meaning. Nanobodies, or single-domain antibodies, demonstrate that featherweights can pack an explosive epigenetic editing punch by using their opponents’ momentum against them. Researchers led by […]
A Dynamic Epigenetic Editing Duo: Mutant DNMT3A and SunTag Team Up to Reduce Off-Target MethylationFebruary 4, 2020Some of the best superheroes are born out of a mutational event. It’s how Peter Parker became Spiderman, how Bruce Banner turned into the Incredible Hulk, and where the X-Men derive their powers. It just goes to show that mutations aren’t always a bad thing — a point exemplified by the new superhero team in […]
Epigenetic Editing Makes the (Neuronal) Connection Between C11orf46 and NeurodevelopmentJanuary 21, 2020Whether it’s our personal of professional lives, we’re told time and time again that making the right connection is key. It turns out that that’s also true for our brains; making proper neuronal connections early is make or break. Altered neuronal connections can cause neurodevelopmental disorders. Often, these disorders are associated with mutations in genes […]
Inside Job: dCas9 Hijacks Endogenous Chromatin Machinery to Modulate Gene ExpressionNovember 22, 2019In the newest spy movie hitting theaters this month, undercover agents sneak inside the innermost sanctum of fortress walls to hijack nuclear weapons…err nuclear machinery to upregulate gene expression. Spoiler alert, we’ll even reveal the agents’ identities: it’s catalytically dead Cas9 (dCas9) with a small molecule associate, teaming up to complete the mission. While other […]
Casilio-ME Engineers dCas9-Demethylation to the Next Gene Expression LevelOctober 7, 2019DNA methylation got your expression down? Why not try targeted demethylation with Casilio-ME? CRISPR/Cas9 techniques have been applied to numerous biological tasks including regulation of DNA methylation. 5-methyl cytosine (5mC) is deposited by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and removed by step-wise oxidation via the three ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes; 5mC is first converted to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), […]
Epitranscriptomic Editing: m6A RNA Methylation Tools Join the CRISPR Arms RaceSeptember 11, 2019CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing has revolutionized not only the way genomes are modified, but thanks to deactivated Cas9 (dCas9) and it’s growing arsenal of effector domains, it has also provided the tools needed for the epigenome editing revolution. However, to date, the tools to modify RNA itself have been lagging behind in the epigenome editing arms […]
Epigenetic Editing Wipes Fear Memory in a Sex-Specific MannerFebruary 4, 2019Whether it’s the sure thing you bet on for the Super Bowl or the grant that keeps escaping your grasp, some memories are best forgotten. However, memories are complicated to say the least, and with most of us left wanting to retain a few of the more enjoyable examples, a targeted editing approach would certainly help. Thankfully, new […]
Perturb-ATAC: Single-Cell Multiplex CRISPR Screening of Chromatin Regulatory NetworksJanuary 30, 2019Feeling perturbed by the limitations of current chromatin assays? Looking for something high throughput that combines multiplexed genome editing with single cell resolution of open chromatin? Well look no further than Perturb-ATAC. The lab of Paul Khavari (Stanford, California) sought to address the above challenges with simultaneous measurements of perturbations and chromatin state in single […]
