Articles tagged with Chromatin
Researchers have discovered hundreds of new protein-coding genes and thousands of new non-protein coding RNAs in the fruit fly and roundworm genomes. The studies also identified specific chromatin signatures associated with the regulation of protein-coding genes, revealing how genes work in concert to produce complex biological processes.
A new study reveals that immune cells use chromatin to form defensive webs, catching and killing pathogens with the help of enzymes neutrophil elastase and myeloperoxidase. The discovery opens up a new understanding of how the body defends against infection.
As human cells age, their telomeres shorten, triggering massive changes in the way DNA is packaged, known as chromatin. This leads to epigenetic changes that affect gene expression and contribute to aging. Researchers have identified histone proteins as key players in this process.
The study reveals that Wilms tumor cells share epigenetic characteristics with normal kidney stem cells, highlighting the critical role of chromatin in tumor development. This discovery may provide new avenues for therapy and shed light on other pediatric cancers.
A new study reveals that chromatin regulatory proteins, Smc2 and Smc4, play a crucial role in maintaining genome stability in embryonic stem cells. The authors found that condensins promote mitotic progression and interphase chromatin compaction, leading to massive DNA damage and cell death when blocked in these cells.
A new study reveals that chromatin proteins defective in RTT, CdLS, and ATR-X syndromes are associated with each other and regulate imprinted genes. This cooperation may explain similarities between the associated human syndromes.
Researchers at the Genome Institute of Singapore have made a significant breakthrough in understanding gene expression and regulation by developing a novel technology called ChIA-PET, which successfully mapped long-range chromatin interactions throughout the human genome.
Researchers at EMBL have identified a whole family of proteins capable of directly responding to the alarm signal produced by PARP1 when DNA is damaged. Histone macroH2A1.1 plays a key role in this process, condensing chromatin around damaged areas to increase repair chances.
A recent study found that lincRNAs have a global role in genome regulation, guiding chromatin complexes to specific genomic locations. By analyzing RNA-protein interactions, researchers identified which lincRNAs are bound by chromatin-modifying enzymes and which genes are affected by their depletion.
The BRIT1 protein enables cellular repair mechanisms to fix damaged DNA by relaxing its packaging. This allows two different DNA repair pathways to access the damage, preventing flawed DNA from being passed on as the cell divides. The study suggests that targeting BRIT1 deficiency could lead to cancer treatment.
A study by Baylor College of Medicine found that retinoic acid and Neurogenin2 cooperate to activate chromatin and determine nerve progenitor cells become motor neurons. This discovery may lead to generating motor neurons from different stem cells and developing tools for drug screening.
Researchers discovered how a SUMO protein guides an enzyme complex to alter chromatin structure and regulate gene expression. The interaction between SUMO and the enzyme complex prevents aberrant gene expression, which is common in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers discovered the MLL-AF4 protein binds to over 169 genes in cancer cells, hijacking blood stem cell machinery and causing cancerous cell division. This understanding may lead to new drug targets for treating mixed-lineage leukemia.
The new journal Epigenetics & Chromatin publishes research on heritable changes in gene expression without altering DNA sequence. High-quality studies on human telomeres and the RNAi pathway have been published, shedding light on epigenetic inheritance and chromatin-based interactions.
The DOT1B enzyme helps epigenetically regulate VSG genes, allowing parasites to switch between coat variants. In its absence, silent genes become active, slowing down the switching process.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new technique to image cells under an electron microscope, yielding a sharper picture of chromatin structure. This method allows for enhanced staining and structural preservation, enabling scientists to study chromatin packing and gene expression in high resolution.
Scientists create whole genome maps of chromatin in embryonic stem cells, revealing a special code that underlies cell identity. The study provides a framework for mapping the complete chromatin landscape of almost any kind of cell.
A UVa-led team has discovered that chromatin packing plays a crucial role in determining gene expression timing. By analyzing the replication of genes in different cell lines, researchers found that loosely packed chromatin allows for early gene expression, while densely packed chromatin leads to late expression.
Researchers at The Wistar Institute have identified an 'insulator' - a stretch of DNA about 800 base pairs long - that serves as a physical barrier between active and inactive regions of the HSV-1 genome. This discovery may lead to strategies to manipulate the virus, and could provide targets for designing drugs to disrupt its mechanisms.
In Drosophila cells, ribosomal proteins are associated with linker histone H1 protein on chromatin. Depletion of both causes up-regulation of target genes.
Researchers at the Broad Institute found an unusual molecular structure near developmental genes that enables embryonic stem cells to maintain their unique plasticity. This 'bivalent domain' acts as a kind of gene gatekeeper, controlling the expression of crucial genes in early development.
A Brg1 mutation in mice reveals the importance of SWI/SNF complexes in beta-globin regulation and erythropoiesis. This study may provide insight into common ailments such as beta thalassemia and anemia. The findings highlight the significance of chromatin-remodeling complexes in development and physiology.
Researchers analyzed chromatin structure in human chromosomes and found similar patterns in equivalent regions of the mouse genome, revealing new insights into regulatory functions and potential connections to cancer. This study advances our understanding of how genes are turned on and off, with implications for improving human health.
Researchers found that MECP2 target gene DLX5 is overexpressed in RTT patients due to loss of silent chromatin looping and impaired imprinting. This misregulation leads to increased expression of GABA, a neurotransmitter essential for brain function.
Researchers found that mutated MeCP2 protein represses genes, specifically targeting imprinted genes like DLX5, leading to misregulation of neurotransmitter GABA production. The study links specific defects in chromatin folding to Rett Syndrome for the first time.
Researchers at The Wistar Institute have discovered a family of molecular complexes involved in the repression of extensive sets of tissue-specific genes. These complexes share two core subunits, including histone deacetylase and BHC110, which operate as co-repressors to maintain gene silencing.
New research at the University of Illinois Chicago found that chromatin, not proteins, provides structural support for chromosomes during cell division. The study used a novel methodology involving DNA digestion and glass tube pipettes, which may help unlock the puzzle of how cells divide.
Researchers have found a new piece of the gene expression puzzle, revealing how histone proteins interact with each other and with other molecules to regulate gene activity. The discovery sheds light on potential causes of male infertility and highlights the complex mechanisms at play in chromatin.
A recent discovery by Dr. Kathrin Muegge and colleagues has revealed that a protein called Lsh is required for normal genome-wide methylation during development. The study suggests that chromatin structure plays a crucial role in regulating DNA methylation, which is essential for gene expression and cellular function.