PANDORA-seq Opens a Pandora’s Box of sncRNAsMay 2, 2021The opening of Pandora’s box is said to have cursed the ancient Greek world with sickness, death, and innumerable other evils. Thankfully, a modern-day technique called “PANDORA-seq” brings forth new hope for removing these ancient afflictions on our epigenomes by identifying previously undetectable small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs). A hopeful handful of researchers led by Qi […]
The Epitranscriptomic Results Are In: To Be Queen Bee, First Eat the Royal JellyMarch 19, 2021It must be jelly, royal jelly. Giving new meaning to the adage “you are what you eat”, exciting epitranscriptomic findings have us buzzing about how diet influences larval development and royal status in honeybees. In a process known as caste differentiation, female honeybees fed different diets become either sterile workers or fertile queens. These bees […]
Sperm Throw “Three-pointers” to Ensure Transgenerational Epigenetic InheritanceJanuary 26, 2021In the game of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, many labs have been searching for a slam dunk. Now, in a game-changing new article, ballers from the laboratory of Michael K. Skinner (Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA) provide a play-by-play of how teamwork between non-coding RNA expression, DNA methylation, and histone modifications allows rat sperm to […]
C.elegans Studies Worm into the Fundamentals of Transgenerational Epigenetic InheritanceSeptember 21, 2020While a “bird’s-eye view” of a topic can often provide colossal insight, the opposite perspective can sometimes be just as useful! Recently, two fascinating studies of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance have taken a “worm’s-eye view” of this research area to deepen our understanding of this complex mechanism in the model nematode worm C. elegans. C. elegans […]
Choosing Sides: Tsix RNA Decapping Initiates the X Chromosome Inactivation CascadeSeptember 9, 2020When it comes to X inactivation there are a huge number of studies that eXist. Despite being one of the best-studied epigenetic phenomena, the molecular decision making process behind the initiation of X chromosome inactivation (XCI) had remained far from fully understood. The regulation of the long non-coding RNA Xist initiates XCI. Xist’s antisense partner […]
Exosomal microRNA Roots for Regrowth by Raising Hairs in Retired FolliclesAugust 15, 2020Move over, Rogaine; the pharmacies of the future will carry hair regrowth treatments that contain microRNAs from hair follicle exosomes! There are creams, supplements, lasers and even surgery, but people struggling with hair loss still don’t have a convenient and effective treatment to help them restore their luscious locks. New treatments could involve injecting dermal […]
Expand Your Epigenetic Editing Portfolio With Targeted RNA m6A Methyltransferases!August 4, 2020For the last few years, DNA has cornered the methylation market as the Apple of epigenome editing tools, but a newly developed CRISPR-Cas13 system has epigenetic investors buying stock in RNA editing! 6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant RNA modification, and even though we know it’s involved in chromatin accessibility, RNA splicing and repairing damaged […]
Exon Skipping via Intergenerational Epigenetic Silencing Rescues Duchenne Muscular DystrophyJuly 29, 2020While missing a gym class can happen from time to time without leaving you feeling too guilty (!), you really shouldn’t “skip” a fascinating new study that now describes how a maternally-transmitted epigenetic “exon skipping” effect may act as the foundation for new therapeutic approaches for a devastating genetic muscle-weakening disease. A majority of Duchenne […]
Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance in Worms is A “Tail” of Two NucleotidesJune 2, 2020While the sprawls of London and Paris take center stage in the novel “A Tale of Two Cities,” we now seek to narrate an alternative epigenetic “tail” that tells all about two nucleotides! In this hefty tome, uridine and guanosine play the starring roles in a story passed down through generations and generations of worms; […]
How the Journey Towards Sperm Maturation Can Leave Offspring Stressed Out!April 23, 2020Queues! Security! Lost passports! While many will be currently reminiscing about the fun and frolics enjoyed during old holidays to far-flung exotic destinations, we generally choose to forget the enduring stress of the outward journey. However, a fascinating new study now provides evidence that any stress endured by maturing sperm during their epic voyage is […]
