Category Archives: Cellular Biology

A Better Way to Discriminate iPSCs vs ESCs

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Nicole Kelesoglu

First of all, a hearty congratulations to Dr. Shinya Yamanaka and Dr. John Gurdon for winning this year’s Nobel prize for Medicine, for their discoveries that adult cells could be transformed back to embryonic-like states. Recently, Dr. Yamanaka has publicly warned of dangerous “stem cell therapies” currently offered in various countries, without any pre-clinical testing in animals. This was an important message considering possible tragedies, both for any patients desperate for a cure, who end up sick or dead…and for the public, who might lose their trust in potential future stem cell therapies developed safely under strict scientific methods. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be transformed from somatic cells, through the expression of only four transcription factors, using Kyoto … Continue reading →

Posted in Cellular Biology, DNA Methylation, Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing, Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells | 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

O-GlcNAcylation Epigenetic Mark is Palatable Research

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Nicole Kelesoglu

It’s well known that modern high calorie, sugary diets correlate with increasing rates of diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s in particular), and cancers. Metabolic dis-regulation is associated and SUSPECT in all of these health problems. There are already over 14,000 records in the E3 Epigenetics publication database containing the word ‘Metabolism’. Researchers hope to show direct epigenetic events, leading to these disease outcomes. One such link, is the post-translational modification (PTM), O-GlcNAcylation. With the recent development of O-GlcNAc antibodies (thanks partially to grant initiatives by NCI in 2010), and improved mass spec techniques, the study of this unique type of sugar based PTM has become palatable. NIH scientists John A. Hanover, Michael W. Krause and Dona C. Love have just … Continue reading →

Posted in Cellular Biology, Enzymology, Gene Regulation, Genetics, Histone Modifications, History & Trends, Mass Spec, Metabolism, Nutrigenomics, O-GlcNAcylation | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Viral MicroRNA Mimicing Cellular MicroRNA? and a New Dual-Fluuorescent Reporter System

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Nicole Kelesoglu

A team out of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has reported both a new dual-fluorescent reporter system, and an insight on a suspected general phenomenon of functionally matched viral and cellular microRNA in viral-host interactions. You X, Zhang Z, Fan J, Cui Z, Zhang X-E (2012) Functionally Orthologous Viral and Cellular MicroRNAs Studied by a Novel Dual-Fluorescent Reporter System. PLoS ONE 7(4): e36157. Now for context, the gist of what’s known about microRNAs (miRNA) is that they can be thought of as epigenetic post-transcriptional volume control. Modulating…fine tuning…dialling gene expression up or down.   MicroRNAs are ~18-24 nucleotide molecules that are processed from long, highly evolutionarily conserved sequences in organisms and viruses. Such pre-miRNA sequences are located at protein gene introns, … Continue reading →

Posted in Biomarkers, Cellular Biology, Imaging, Immunology, Leukemia, Microbial Epigenetics, New Lab Methods, Non-coding RNA, Oncogenes, Virology, microRNA | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

It’s not over until the RNA sings…

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Nicole Kelesoglu

Epigenetic regulation is accomplished by a series of interdependent systems. It’s overall effect on gene expression is often compared to a musical composition. Today I’m thinking of opera in particular…since I’m proud to say that my uncle Robert Aldridge just won a Grammy for best contemporary classical composition. Bravo Uncle Bob! So you probably know the silly old saying, “It’s not over till the fat lady sings”, right? There are numerous well studied roles in the epigenetic opera….modifications of DNA, chromatin and histones, enzymes activities like DNA and protein methyltransferase, etc….but today let’s think of RNA expression as the grand finale. Once a gene has been physically exposed through modifications to chromatin and histone structural proteins, and expression takes place…those … Continue reading →

Posted in Bioinformatics, Cell Culture Models, Cellular Biology, Gene Regulation, Gene Silencing, Histone Modification Assay, Non-coding RNA, chIP, siRNA | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Viral Etiquette Tips : The Epigenetic Effects of Life Long Guests

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Nicole Kelesoglu

Hello E3 scientists! Here are three etiquette tips for the modern virus. This week’s post is a bit of “tongue in cheek”, while pointing out some neat virology & epigenetics research!!!

Posted in Acetylation, Bioinformatics, Cellular Biology, Chromatin Structure, DNA Methylation, Genomewide Methylation Profiling, Immunology, Methylation, Oncogenes, Virology, chIP | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Regenerative Medicine: Using Adult Stem Cells to Regenerate Human Organs

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Nicole Kelesoglu

Recently, I visited the Chihuly glass art exhibit at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Seeing Dale Chihuly’s work for the first time, is like the first time you see the Grand Canyon. It’s breathtaking!  You have to see one of his towers in person, made up of hundreds of boldly colored glass spikes, to fully appreciate them. Interestingly, the tower I saw was reassembled for the new exhibit location, without instructions for identical structure. Each glass spike is NOT numbered for placement. Rather, the assemblers work to approximate the intended shape, gaging the spikes for size, color and direction, ultimately creating the intended overall pattern, albeit uniquely expressed. The process reminded me a bit of how stem cells can … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Models, Cell Culture Models, Cellular Biology, Immunology, Stem Cells | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Are your Allergies an Evolutionary Advantage?

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Nicole Kelesoglu

Many of my neighbors spent a long day outside on Mother’s day, in their running shoes…chasing a black bolt of lighting in and out of the woods, and down the road. But who could really blame that run away miniature schnauzer? It’s finally spring! Of course, there are some of us (up to 30%) who can’t enjoy spring time quite as much, due to our seasonal allergies.  The epigenetic inheritance of allergies makes sense conceptually.  Allergic disease overall, which includes atopic asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, anaphylactic reactions and food allergies, is on the rise generationally. Allergies have some genetic basis, but triggers and timing vary, even between twins. Allergy suffers can blame their high levels of total serum IgE antibodies, for … Continue reading →

Posted in Cellular Biology, Developmental Biology, Evolutionary Epigenetics, Genetics, Immunology, In Utero, Pathology | Leave a comment

Epigenetics, Eh! to Promote Canadian Collaboration

Posted on April 30, 2011 by Nicole Kelesoglu

Late registration is still available online for Epigenetics Eh!, the Canadian Conference on Epigenetics, which is taking place in London, Ontario from May 4 to May 7th, 2011. Part of the stated mission for this conference is to promote a Canadian Epigenetics Research Network (EPIGENETICS CANADA). The epigenetic research areas of the speakers for this conference include, but are not limited to the following. Diabetes Early detection of cancer Leukemia Pluripotency in ES cells Proteomics to study protein import into the nucleus Genomic CNV and epigenetic changes in Neurobehavioral disorders Chromatin factors in brain development Molecular mechanisms underlying cell fate specification, proliferation, and differentiation of neural stem cells Genomic imprinting X chromosome inactivation Dicer expression and/or microRNA function. ING family … Continue reading →

Posted in Applications, Bioinformatics, Biomarkers, Cellular Biology, Chromatin Structure, DNA Methylation, Developmental Biology, Divergent Transcription, Evolutionary Epigenetics, Gene Regulation, Gene Silencing, Genetics, Hematology, Histone Modifications, Leukemia, Neuroscience, Non-coding RNA, Plant Epigenetics, Reproductive Biology, Stem Cells, Translational Research, chIP, siRNA | 2 Comments