Category Archives: Conformation Capture

Did Epigenetics Make Us Smart?

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Chris Womack

Finally there’s research comparing the epigenetic marks of human brain neurons to those of other primates, and it’s found real differences that make us function in a unique way. Do these epigenetic modifications help give us the brainpower for reflection, sentience, sapience, consciousness, and so forth? I’m not a gambler, but since primate neuron-specific genes don’t show a whole lot of difference from one another in their protein-coding sequences, that’s where I’d put my money. If I really had to. With only one study to look at so far, this line of inquiry is in its infancy, to be sure. No one else has looked at the epigenetic component of human brain evolution. Hennady Shulha, Jessica Crisci, and Schahram Akbarian at the University … Continue reading →

Posted in Applications, Chromatin Structure, Chromosome conformation capture, Conformation Capture, Divergent Transcription, Evolutionary Epigenetics, Gene Regulation, Histone Modifications, Neuroscience | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

5hmC Regulates Cellular Differentiation

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Nicole Kelesoglu

What was once surprising is now established. DNA methylation is not static after imprinting. All genes are not silenced “forever” through DNA methylation.  But how does this dynamic and reversible mechanism work? As the hypothesis goes, 5hmC is a step in the de-methylation process initiated by Tet dioxygenases.  The news today is that 5hmC is more than just a quick step, it has function. In Dynamic hydroxymethylation of deoxyribonucleic acid marks differentiation-associated enhancers. (2012) Nucleic Acids Research, 1-11. A.A. Serandour & S. Avner et al. show that conversion of 5mC to 5hmC activates enhancers – even pointing to it as an early step in the enhancer activation process. Can we all say functional signalling mark? Some of you might be saying … Continue reading →

Posted in Cellular Biology, Conformation Capture, DNA Methylation, Genomewide Methylation Profiling, Histone Modifications, Hydroxymethylation, Methyl-specific Antibodies, Methylated DNA Capture, Next Gen Sequencing, Transcriptome microarray, chIP | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment