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Epigenetics is the study of molecular processes that influence the flow of information between a constant DNA sequence and variable gene expression patterns. This includes investigation of nuclear organization, DNA methylation, histone modification and RNA transcription. Epigenetic processes can result in intergenerational (heritable) effects as well as clonal propagation of cell identity without any mutational change in DNA sequence.
Researchers find that brief and reversible inhibition of a gene-silencing mechanism leads to irreversible tumour formation in fruit flies, challenging the idea that cancer is caused only by permanent changes to DNA.
A triplet repeat expansion in Arabidopsis induces gene silencing that results in a severe growth defect. We show that an interplay between a SUMO protease and histone readers of active and inactive marks is required for this gene silencing, which highlights the importance of post-translational modifiers in chromatin remodelling.
Here the authors show that DNA translesion synthesis affects primordial germ cell DNA demethylation and plays a role in the development of embryonic germ cells.
Please let us know if there are any inaccuracies: ‘Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is most commonly detected at a late stage, which limits survival and treatment options. Here, the authors utilise whole genome bisulfite sequencing to create a cfDNA framework to detect cfDNA methylation, copy number variants and fragmentation.
Disturbances in the gut microbiota of male mice manifest as fitness defects in their offspring by affecting plancenta function, revealing a paternal gut–germline axis.
Renée Beekman discusses the possibilities for research into transient enhancers by highlighting a recent paper by Vermunt et al. that identifies how they can modulate gene silencing dynamics.
Researchers find that brief and reversible inhibition of a gene-silencing mechanism leads to irreversible tumour formation in fruit flies, challenging the idea that cancer is caused only by permanent changes to DNA.
A triplet repeat expansion in Arabidopsis induces gene silencing that results in a severe growth defect. We show that an interplay between a SUMO protease and histone readers of active and inactive marks is required for this gene silencing, which highlights the importance of post-translational modifiers in chromatin remodelling.
In this Tools of the Trade article, Dongsheng Bai and Chenxu Zhu describe SIMPLE-seq, a scalable single-cell sequencing method that simultaneously decodes the cytosine modifications 5mC and 5hmC.