Hydroxymethylcytosine Shakes Up the Epigenetics CommunityApril 15, 20105-hydroxymethylcytosine’s (5-hmC) discovery last year in mammalian DNA (Kriaucionis & Heintz, Science, 2009. and Tahiliani et al., Science, 2009), left the epigenetics community more shaken than a 007 martini. Although its broader role (if any) in epigenetics remains a mystery today, early evidence suggests a few putative mechanisms that could have big implications: Conversion of […]
Decoding Autism’s Epigenetic RiddleApril 14, 2010Autism is a developmental disorder that’s shrouded in mystery. Its causes are unknown and hotly debated, but some recent detective work hints that through changes in miRNA expression and DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns, there is an epigenetic link. Autism often brings to mind Dustin Hoffman’s character in Rain Man, who was deeply focused on only […]
RNA Binding Proteins Get miRNA Regulation Turned OnApril 14, 2010With all of the big energy conservation campaigns over the years, not many people understand flipping-switches like Southern Californians. You can’t get through a Lakers game without being reminded to turn the lights off, or adjust your thermostat. It appears that some researchers from the Institute of Microbiology in Prague have gotten into the act […]
Crush miRNA Function with miRZip anti-miRNA ConstructsApril 8, 2010The exact role miRNAs play in gene regulation may be an evolving story but that doesn’t mean you can’t pin down miRNA function in your model system. miRZip anti-miRNA vectors are a new breed of miRNA inhibitors that allow you to permanently knockdown miRNA function so you can analyze changes in phenotype more easily. Equipped with an H1 promoter, […]
Self Renewal: Yoga, Meditation and DNA MethyltransferasesApril 8, 2010Despite all the technology “progress” over the years that was supposed to save us heaps of time, we seem to be busier than ever. Real-time internet and PDAs make communication a 24-7 gig, so it’s no wonder that there’s a big movement in self-renewal. We would take some time here to give you small ways […]
