eBook: Epigenetics & DNA MethylationNovember 21, 2022One of the longest-known and most studied epigenetic markers is DNA methylation, which can regulate gene expression and genomic organization in nearly all organisms. In eukaryotes, the primary modification of DNA is found in cytosines (C), where DNA Methyltransferases mediate the transfer of a methyl group to cytosines, converting them to 5-methylcytosine (5-mC), minor modifications […]
An Inflammatory Microclimate Seeds a Super-enhancer That Drives TumorigenesisNovember 7, 2022While microclimates shape environments along coastlines and urban jungles, this phenomenon isn’t restricted to macroscopic landscapes; now, a new study provides evidence that inflammatory signaling from the tumor microenvironment (TME) alters the epigenetic landscape by inducing the formation of a super-enhancer (SE) that drives tumorigenesis. An environmentally-friendly team led by Ramon E. Parsons (Icahn School […]
An Eerie Epigenetic Disguise Helps SARS-CoV-2 Avoid Anti-viral ResponsesOctober 25, 2022Every avid trick-or-treater aspires to have the perfect Halloween costume; now, a spooky study has revealed how an unwanted guest – SARS-CoV-2 – dons an epigenetic disguise to help this virus trick its way past host defenses to infect human cells! A fearless team led by Erica Korb (University of Pennsylvania, USA) knew that SARS-CoV-2 […]
RT&Tag Maps the Fleeting World of Chromatin-associated RNAsOctober 25, 2022Between the vast lands of DNA and proteins lies the ephemeral and dynamic world of chromatin-associated RNAs, a less-explored but utterly critical domain of the eukaryotic nucleus. Thankfully, RNA-focused researchers can now turn to a tagmentation-based profiling technique (“RT&Tag”) to map the landscape of regulatory chromatin-associated RNAs to aid this quest. In their fascinating study, […]
Placental Proxies: A Shared DNA Methylation Profile Between cffDNA and BrainSeptember 27, 2022When you’re looking to access the latest and greatest publications, your VPN is the proxy you need. But now, there’s a new proxy in town to help with your quest for neurodevelopmental epigenetic information: Placenta and the cell free fetal DNA (cffDNA) that originates from it. A dynamic duo of papers from the lab of Janine LaSalle (UC Davis […]
RNA Methylation and DNA Demethylation Teamwork Make the Transcriptional Dream WorkSeptember 25, 2022Dream teams come in all shapes and sizes, from the 1970 Brazil football team to the Mercedes F1 team of the 2010s. A new epigenetic alliance formed between RNA methylation and DNA demethylation recently made its competitive debut and now shows how teamwork makes the dream work! A synergistic team led by Dongxin Lin, Jian […]
eBook: Epigenetics of COVID-19September 22, 2022COVID-19 has been one of the biggest public health issues in recent history and has changed the daily lives of almost everyone on the planet. Many researchers, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies have been working around the clock since the novel coronavirus outbreak started to try to develop new tools to test for and treat the […]
Brain Cells Choose Cilia Over Social Media to Make Exciting New Connections!September 19, 2022When was the last time you made an exciting new connection? At an international conference, the coffee shop, or social media? A welcoming new study now provides evidence that brain cells don’t go to these lengths or even have to take a standard synaptic approach; instead, they use a connection – an axo-ciliary synapse – […]
Keeping Aging in LINE by Stabilizing HeterochromatinSeptember 11, 2022Like many aspects of our lives, epigenetic processes can get out of control during aging. Now, exciting new findings have revealed that the secret to keeping our aging epigenomes “in line” is removing LINE-1 RNA from cells, which stabilizes heterochromatin and reverses signs of aging! Previous studies have shown how age-associated heterochromatin loss associates with […]
Multiomic Face-off Finds the Factors that Lead to Look-alikes!September 6, 2022Have you ever heard of someone bumping into their doppelgänger and wondered how the forces of biology conspired to make two unrelated people look alike? In a recent study, a few familiar faces took advantage of a photographer’s keen eye and a multiomic “face-off” to find those factors that lead two strangers to look alike! […]