Genomic Imprinting’s Alternative Choices: H3K27me3 and 5hmCJuly 31, 2017In today’s world, where choices are a plenty, alternative is a fashionable choice. When it comes to genomic imprinting, traditionalists swear by DNA cytosine methylation (5mC); however, sometimes imprinting turns to alternative epigenetic marks. Genomic imprinting is typically driven by 5mC at imprinting control regions (ICRs), where it represses the expression of the marked allele […]
Genome Protection in the Embryo: A Big Role for Small RNAs!July 27, 2017It’s not how big it is, it’s what you do with it that counts. Here at Epigenie, we don’t think that size matters, as evidenced by our excitement over studies showing that small RNAs in sperm can mediate huge intergenerational effects related to paternal exercise and diet! Now, a fascinating study from the lab of […]
Exploring the TERRA Incognita of Long Non-Coding RNAs!July 14, 2017Decades of diligent exploration in the mammalian genome has led to the discovery that while only around 2% of this base-pair jungle represents protein-coding sequence, over 90% of our genome gets transcribed into RNA species such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). However, our knowledge base on many lncRNAs remains in “terra incognita” with scant details […]
Environmentally Reprogrammed Sperm Epigenetically Transmit Behavior Across GenerationsJuly 11, 2017Life’s full of experiences that often seem like a coin toss. Should you go the gym or feast on some sushi? While the epigenetic mechanisms behind the outcomes of these two events may seem quite different at first, when considering the epigenetics of sperm, it turns out they’re two-sides of the same coin. Intergenerational Effect […]
Down is the New Up: Single Base-Pair Methylome Maps of CancerJune 29, 2017Navigating the highly variable features behind the epigenomic basis of cancer is no easy task: What’s up is down, what’s down is up! Thankfully, to aid our quest, the lab of Manel Esteller at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) in Spain has brought forth a map as massive as the DNA methylation changes behind […]
Epromoters: Two Great Regulatory Functions for the Price of One!June 19, 2017Not many people can resist the allure of the ubiquitous neon signs promising fantastic two-for-the-price-of-one offers that promise to double the value of their hard-earned cash. Interestingly, these bargain offers also seem to be a feature in the human genome as a subset of promoters provide extra value by also acting as enhancers for other […]
HDACking Histone Acetylation With dCas9-HDAC3June 12, 2017Hacking the epigenome is no easy task. Each deactivated Cas9 (dCas9) system boasts its own nuances that must be teased apart before we can crack the histone code with its suite of effector domains. When it comes to histone acetylation, we’ve seen the histone acetyltransferase construct dCas9-p300, which writes H3K27ac to activate gene expression. However, […]
Tea Beats Coffee as a DNA Methylation Caffeine Fix in WomenJune 10, 2017There’s no denying that caffeine fuels epigenetic discovery, but now a recent epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) offers up a different epigenetic perspective about your daily caffeine fix. This creative rush comes at you from a European collaboration led by Uppsala University (Sweden). The team brewed up the first epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of coffee and […]
The PARTICLE Accelerator of DNA and Histone Methylation CoordinationJune 8, 2017Finding the links between DNA methylation and histone modification is no easy chore. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may be the answer; they are a huge part of the transcriptome, and many appear to be functional. There is growing evidence that lncRNAs act to “lnc” other epigenetic regulators together and coordinate their function. Adding to that […]
DNA Methylation is a Plus for Many Transcription FactorsJune 6, 2017When it comes to transcription factor binding, DNA methylation has a reputation as a trouble maker. When most people think of DNA methylation, they think of it blocking proteins from being able to bind. But does it deserve the bad rap? Though there are some examples of DNA methylation promoting binding of certain transcription factors […]