DNA methylation was heating up in the second half of 2010 in hot pursuit of determining roles for 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, creating bisufite alternatives and uncovering DNAm’s role in disease. Have a look at some of our favorite articles from the last six months:
5-hmC and Stem Cells
Anytime you put together a new biological role for 5-hmC AND it relates to stem cells, we’re in!
August 3, 2010. Uncovering 5-hmC’s Link to Stem Cell Self-Renewal
New Bisulfite Challenger
We doubt that good ol’ bisulfite reactions are going anywhere soon, but we love that there are some new options out there.
September 23, 2010. O-allylhydroxylamine Threatens Bisulfite’s Gold Standard Status
TF Binding Site Methylation
It turns out that DNA methylation of binding sites has a little something to say about where transcription factors can interact with the genome.
October 4, 2010. Do Transcription Factors Occupy All their Binding Motifs in the Genome? Not quite…
Epimutations
Not only can mutations in particular genes, like BRCA1, cause cancer, but this paper showed that epigenetic mutations in promoter regions can as well. That’s a scary thought.
November 18, 2010. Epimutation: The New Risk Factor on the BRCA1 Block
Dnmt1 Gone Wild
Apparently Dnmt1 is a pretty prolific little enzyme. As we found out, it will methylate cytosines whether they are in a CpG context or not, and may be responsible for non-CpG methylation found in stem cells.
October 5, 2010. Who Says Dnmt1 is Only a Maintenance Methyltransferase?