Stat3 is a Mitochondrial Mastermind Behind Metabolic Control of DNA Methylation in Naïve Stem CellsFebruary 15, 2021We’ve seen that mitochondria can modify nuclear DNA methylation, but until recently, the identities of the masterminds behind how the powerhouse of the cell can affect epigenetic change in the nucleus have remained classified. Although Stat3 is most notably recruited by LIF to activate the pluripotency gene network in the nucleus, we also know that LIF […]
Distant Genomic Regions Meet at DNA Methylation Grand CanyonsJune 9, 2020CpG islands have been the best-known tourist destination in the epigenome for a long time, but if you’re looking for a change there’s a destination that all the rage: DNA methylation grand canyons. It is well known that DNA methylation at CpG islands is associated with transcriptional repression. However, the precise molecular mechanism linking DNA […]
Micro-C and Single-Cell Hi-C Provide Macro Chromosome Conformation InsightsApril 11, 2020Genome-wide chromosome conformation capture analyses, such as Hi-C, have provided us with snapshots of the large-scale spatial architecture of mammalian genomes, describing chromatin compartments, topologically associating domains (TADs), and CTCF– and cohesin-mediated chromatin loops in many cell types. However, the resolution of Hi-C-based protocols, limited by the size and uniformity of chromatin fragmentation, represents a […]
N6-methyladenosine-modified CarRNAs Hit the Epigenetic Brake on TranscriptionFebruary 3, 2020Nitrous systems, improved aerodynamics, and slick tires on your car may all help to quench your need for speed when you get behind the wheel; however, the need to slow down is just as critical in the world of gene regulation. Recently, a team of researchers has described how the modification of a racy subset […]
Single-cell Multi-omic Maps of Germ Layer Enhancers – Deciphering The Best-laid Body-Plans of Mice and Perhaps Men?January 22, 2020A weekend away with a book of poetry, a mountain biking holiday, or perhaps a daring jewel heist……whatever your idea of a fun weekend is, a well-laid out, precise set of instructions usually help; in short, you need a plan! In the gastrulating mouse embryo, precise epigenomic and transcriptomic instructions dictate the differentiation of pluripotent […]
The Epigenetics of T-Cell Development with Dr. Ellen RothenbergDecember 20, 2019Dr. Ellen Rothenberg from the California Institute of Technology discusses her lab’s research into the epigenetics of T-cell development at the 2019 joint CEEHRC/IHEC meeting.
The Epigenomics of Human Health with Dr. John GreallyDecember 20, 2019Dr. John Greally from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine discusses his group’s research into the epigenomics of human health at the 2019 joint CEEHRC/IHEC meeting.
Reactivating “Fossil” Enhancers from Embryonic Development in Adult TissuesApril 10, 2019The Jurassic Park movies got the whole world excited about resurrecting dinosaurs from fossilized DNA, but more recent findings that the half-life of DNA is only 521 years mean that dream is science fiction. So, while the finer details of dinosaur genomes may be lost in the fossil record, new work has dug up epigenomic […]
SunTag Casts Light on iPSC ReprogrammingFebruary 6, 2018While the DNA editing function of CRISPR/Cas9 systems may appear to hog the limelight, we believe that a new SunTag approach for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) reprogramming via epigenome editing deserves its day in the sun! The exciting reprogramming strategy utilizes an endonuclease dead Cas9 (dCas9) fused to a repetitive protein scaffold known […]
An endosiRNA Trap Shoots Down the Transposable Element Rebellion of Embryonic DevelopmentNovember 12, 2017During early embryonic development, our genome lets down its DNA methylation defenses and becomes vulnerable to rebellious transposable elements (TEs). However, those rebel scum are quickly met with a barrage of endogenous short interfering RNAs (endosiRNAs), all before they realize even realize that “It’s A Trap!” The mechanism of this cunning tactic employed by our […]