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Transcription Factor Networking Predicts Histone Mods

September 22, 2014

Computational networking is all the rage, not only can it help you keep track of your friends and colleagues but it can also reveal a surprising amount of information behind the regulation of gene expression. Now a computationally cutting edge team from the University of Edinburgh have found out how to use transcription factor binding patterns […]

Environmental enrichment stimulates neural 5hmC dynamics

September 17, 2014

Judging from the luxurious lifestyles of the rich and famous, it would seem there’s no denying the wonders of an enriched environment. Even at an epigenetic scale, enhancing your environment properly and with a bit of personal restraint leads to improvements in the brain aplenty, including learning and memory. A team from Emory University characterized the […]

The IsomiR Comsos: Population and Gender Dependancies

September 17, 2014

While microRNAs have been generally thought of as very homogenous little genomic modulators, some new studies are finding that there is actually an entire miRNA cosmos out there with slight variations that are relevant to gender and population differences in mammals. Over at Thomas Jefferson University, Isidore Rigoutsos and his colleagues have already seen some pretty […]

Rewiring Stem Cell Transcriptional Circuitry

September 12, 2014

It seems all that was needed for human stem cells to maintain their pluripotent state, was just a little transcriptional rewiring. This cellular circuitry wasn’t handled by a master electrician though, but rather a group of Cambridge area researchers. A collaboration involving the Babraham Institute, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and the European Bioinformatics Institute, led […]

Keep DNA Methylation Experiments in Check with These Controls

September 12, 2014

Specially designed DNA standards and controls may not be flashy, but they are essential for correct experimental design and successful data analysis and without that, you’re going to be struggling to nab that next big publication. But don’t worry, with the proper controls you’ll be able to pinpoint experimental issues with laser precision, not to […]

Hints for Optimizing Bisulfite Primer Design

September 12, 2014

The bisulfite conversion experts from Zymo Research have put together a killer guide on the ins and outs of amplifying bisulfite treated DNA. EpiGenie got an exclusive, advanced peek at some of the content that we are sharing with our readers. In this section, they provide some helpful advice on the art of bisulfite primer […]

Endogenous Retroviruses Shape the Road to Stem Cell Reprogramming

September 6, 2014

It’s been a while now since Yamanaka and his team discovered the recipe of everlasting youth, for cells at least. Yet, the road leading from differentiated cell to pluripotency passes through largely uncharted territory. Now, Yamanaka and colleagues show that the activation of human endogenous retroviruses is a key landmark on the induced pluripotency highway. […]

Total Histone Content Contributes to Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency

September 5, 2014

Histones, the powerful regulators of the nucleus that can make our genetic material expand and contract faster than interest rates on the economy, are deeply involved in stem cell differentiation dynamics. But what about the total amount of histones in a cell? Until recently researchers have viewed histone content as fairly fixed, but an Italian […]

450K Hacked: ox-BS Gives Away 5hmC’s secrets

September 5, 2014

Differentiating between DNA’s celebrity cytosine bases can be harder than remembering all the ‘celebrities’ caught in hollywood’s latest photo leak. But have no fear, because oxidative bisulfite conversion (ox-BS) is here to save the day in a reduced representation way. Normally, bisulfite conversion doesn’t produce a difference in readout between 5mC and 5hmC, but ox-BS overcomes this by treating the DNA […]

EpiGenie Book Reviews: Epigenetics in Psychiatry

September 3, 2014

Weighing in at just above 600 pages, Epigenetics in Psychiatry sets out to cover emerging research interests in the world of neuroepigenomics and it’s translation to the clinic. A collection of reviews, rather than a more standard textbook, it is written by researchers in the field with a focus on the background of their research […]