Articles tagged with Dna Methylation
UK scientists have reported direct evidence that taking up smoking results in epigenetic changes associated with cancer. A study funded by Cancer Research UK found women who started smoking had a higher risk of acquiring p16 methylation, a type of epigenetic change linked to tumor suppressor genes.
A study by Mayo Clinic and TGen reveals that DNA methylation is altered with increasing severity in multiple myeloma, leading to the overexpression of oncogenes. The researchers found hypomethylation at specific points of DNA, associated with myeloma development, and suggest it may have prognostic value.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have identified 13 genes associated with human body mass index, shedding light on the complex relationship between epigenetics and obesity. The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, used genome-wide profiling to uncover epigenetic fingerprints that correlate with body weight.
Researchers mapped epigenetic changes during blood cell differentiation, revealing complex patterns and potential applications for stem cell therapies. The study's findings could guide understanding of diseases like leukemia and lymphoma, paving the way for new treatments.
A UCLA team of scientists discovered a relationship between DNA methylation and nucleosome positioning, which compact and regulate access to DNA. This finding could lead to techniques to control DNA methylation patterns and prevent cancer.
Children conceived through assisted reproductive technology are at greater risk of birth defects and low birth weight, associated with obesity and diabetes. Geneticist Carmen Sapienza found altered DNA methylation and gene expression in 5-10% of these children.
Epigenetic signals vary across alleles in numerous genomic regions, influencing gene expression and regulation. The study reveals over 35,000 such sites across the genome, with implications for genetic studies of complex diseases, including psychiatric conditions.
Researchers created a detailed map of the human epigenome during embryonic development, identifying patterns of DNA methylation and its role in regulating gene expression. This breakthrough has significant implications for targeted differentiation of stem cells into specific organs, a crucial consideration for stem cell therapy.
A study published in PLoS ONE found a correlation between DNA methylation and heart failure, suggesting that environmental factors may play a key role in the development of the disease. The researchers compared DNA from diseased hearts with healthy hearts and found distinct 'marks' on the genome
Researchers analyzed DNA methylation in identical twins discordant for autoimmune disease lupus, finding widespread epigenetic changes that may play a role in the disease. The study suggests environmental factors and lifestyle differences may contribute to differential disease onset.
Researchers developed new tools to predict disease progression in acute childhood leukemia by analyzing DNA methylation patterns. The study found that specific genes' methylation levels correlate with treatment response, enabling identification of patients at risk of relapse.
Researchers at MDC Berlin-Buch show that DNA methylation regulates the development of blood cells from hematopoietic stem cells, with implications for cancer. The study found that manipulating DNA methylation levels can control the formation of specific blood cell lineages.
The NIH Roadmap Epigenomics Program awards $62 million to study the epigenome in various diseases and conditions. These studies aim to understand how diet, environmental exposures, and stress affect human health and disease.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet found epigenetic DNA mutations in muscles of diabetics that reduce expression of PGC-1α gene. This could explain how environmental factors influence disease development.
A new USC study reveals that prenatal tobacco smoke exposure is associated with detectable changes in DNA methylation patterns, which may impact childhood asthma and cardiovascular disease. Researchers found that children exposed to maternal smoke had lower global methylation levels and higher methylation in certain genes.
A new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that fecal DNA methylation can detect gastric and colorectal cancers. Methylation patterns were more likely to be found in advanced tumors, with detection rates of 57% for gastric cancer patients and 75% for colorectal cancer patients.
Scientists have developed a highly sensitive method to detect DNA methylation in colon cancer using Methyl-BEAMing technology. The test can identify 59% of colon cancers in blood samples, a significant improvement over existing methods.
Bioengineers at UC San Diego have developed a novel method for sequencing-based methylation profiling, enabling more efficient and cost-effective methods for studying certain diseases. The breakthrough could fuel personalized regenerative medicine and help address concerns about stem cell tumors.
A new nucleotide, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, has been discovered in the mouse brain, opening a new front in epigenetic research. This discovery may challenge existing approaches to investigating DNA methylation and could have significant implications for understanding gene regulation.
Researchers have developed a new technique to determine tumor methylation status in archived tissue samples, providing a potential biomarker for early cancer diagnosis and risk assessment. The technique uses high-resolution melting analysis and has been validated on archival and fresh tissues.
A new study investigates whether a mother's diet during pregnancy affects her offspring's methylation patterns and long-term health outcomes. Researchers will measure the diets of pregnant women in The Gambia and compare them to their children's DNA methylation patterns.
A study found that most gene switch sites occur on nearby regions, called CpG shores, not just isolated DNA islands in the human genome. This discovery has significant implications for understanding disease and developing new treatments against colon cancer.
The study reveals that protein phosphatase PP1 is necessary for normal DNA methylation, removing phosphates attached to histone H3. The research provides novel insights into an intricate regulatory network involving histone phosphorylation and DNA methylation.
Researchers found that cancer cells' chromatin packaging, including Polycomb group proteins, plays a crucial role in deactivating tumor suppressor genes. By disrupting this packaging, demethylating agents can restore gene expression and potentially lead to new cancer therapies.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine developed a novel test to screen for chemical modifications to DNA known as methylation. The technology potentially could be used both for early cancer diagnoses and for assessing patients' response to cancer therapies.
Scientists at Emory University School of Medicine have identified a crucial protein called UHRF1 that acts like a bookmark to maintain the correct pattern of DNA methylation. This process is essential for normal development and preventing cancer, as alterations in methylation patterns can lead to gene silencing at the wrong times.
A team of Johns Hopkins experts suggests that epigenetic changes occurring over a person's lifetime may explain why disease susceptibility increases with age. They found that methylation levels changed in almost one-third of individuals over an 11-year span, and family members tended to exhibit similar changes.
Researchers used CO-FISH to detect centromeric recombination and found 15 events per centromere, six times the rate of telomeric DNA, and 175 times genomic DNA. Methyltransferase knockdown increased recombination but also decreased centromere length due to misaligned segments.
Researchers at USC suggest epigenetics plays a role in male infertility, with abnormal DNA methylation linked to low sperm counts. The study finds high levels of methylation in sperm DNA from men with fertility issues, potentially leading to new treatments for male infertility.
Researchers have established a direct causal connection between hypermethylation and colon tumor development in mice. Hypermethylation switches off tumor suppressor genes, boosting tumors by 60-100 percent.
The NIH has awarded $3.4 million to support the development of innovative technologies for exploring the genomic underpinnings of cancer. Eight research teams will focus on analyzing methylation, epigenomics, and gene expression patterns in various types of cancer.
A new study sheds light on how histone and DNA methylation cooperate to silence genes. Mammalian HP1 proteins facilitate this cooperation by stimulating the activity of DNMT1, a DNA methyltransferase.
Neurobiologists have found that DNA methylation is necessary for forming memories and regulates the activity of genes involved in memory formation. The study suggests that epigenetic regulation has a significant impact on behavioral changes brought about by environmental stimuli.
The study reveals two molecular pathways controlling the organization of the nucleolus, a critical organelle that manufactures ribosomes, and heterochromatin, which mediates gene silencing. These findings have implications for understanding genome stability and its relation to human disorders like birth defects and cancer.
Researchers at the Salk Institute and UCLA developed a high-density microarray technique to capture genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in Arabidopsis, a plant species. This breakthrough has significant implications for understanding human genome analysis, stem cell biology, and therapeutic cloning.
Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and DNA packaging, can be inherited and affect gene expression. Recent studies in mice and rats have shown that early nutritional environment and behavioral experiences can influence epigenetic marks, which can be 'remembered' in cell divisions.
Researchers have found that human embryonic stem cells exhibit a distinct pattern of DNA methylation, differing from adult cells and cancer cells. This discovery may hinder the success of therapeutic cloning by requiring epigenetic reprogramming of adult cells.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have identified a pathway that enables plant cells to silence unwanted genes using short interfering RNAs. The study reveals the roles of eight proteins in this process, which involves DNA methylation and epigenetic regulation.
Scientists have identified a key player in gene silencing, the protein HDA6, which removes acetyl groups from histones and modifies DNA. This discovery sheds new light on epigenetic mechanisms, potentially leading to breakthroughs in understanding tumor growth, blood disorders, and other diseases.
Researchers have found cancer cells suppress entire chromosome bands through epigenetic changes, silencing genes that prevent tumor growth. The discovery could lead to new treatments targeting DNA demethylation.
The study found that the protein MBD2 mediates DNA methylation to silence specific genes. This could lead to more targeted approaches to reactivate genes and treat diseases such as sickle-cell anemia and beta-thalassemia, with less risk of unintended side effects.
A study by Duke University researchers found that prenatal exposure to genistein, an active ingredient in soy, reduced obesity in Agouti mice offspring. The findings suggest a link between early life nutrition and long-term health outcomes, and may have implications for human health.
Researchers at Ohio State University have identified a novel lung-cancer tumor-suppressor gene, TCF21, which is silenced through DNA methylation. The study suggests that reactivating this gene may provide a new strategy for treating cancers, and the findings could lead to improved early detection methods for lung cancer.
Scientists have found that injecting a specific amino acid into rats can alter their gene expression, raising hopes for potential treatments for diseases. The study also showed that certain nutrients can influence gene expression in animals even after birth, sparking interest in the role of diet in shaping our genes.
Researchers at Temple University have found a link between the Rb2/P130 gene and lung cancer, with epigenetic activity causing the gene to be silenced. A simple genetic test could identify cancerous or pre-cancerous conditions using this epigenetic state.
Researchers found that identical twins may have more differences than expected due to epigenetic changes. The study analyzed epigenetic changes in 40 pairs of twins and found that those with greater health differences had higher methylation levels, which could impact cancer development.
Researchers have solved the co-crystal structure of the Dam enzyme in complex with DNA, revealing its role in regulating bacterial virulence. The study offers a potential target for designing rationally designed drugs to inhibit this enzyme's chemical reaction or DNA binding process.
Researchers developed a method combining DNA sampling and mathematical modeling to measure methylation patterns during DNA replication. This technique allows examining how faithfully maintenance methylation is carried out across generations, which is crucial in understanding gene expression and its role in human disease.
A new syndrome of colorectal cancer has been identified, characterized by frequent mutations in the BRAF oncogene and DNA methylation. This inherited form of cancer often develops in previously harmless polyps and can occur in young individuals, emphasizing the importance of early detection and prevention.
Researchers found that mice with leukemia develop a similar DNA methylation pattern as humans, identifying a new gene linked to cancer. The study uses genome-wide sequencing to map tiny bits of DNA and reveals a potential target for intervention.
A fourth kind of RNA polymerase, Pol IV, has been found in plants, playing a crucial role in maintaining genome integrity. It helps direct DNA methylation to specific sequences, ensuring proper gene expression and preventing developmental problems. The discovery sheds light on the unique features of plant biology.
In Arabidopsis leaves, specific mutations affect leaf patterning by altering microRNA binding sites. MicroRNAs interact with nascent mRNA to alter chromatin states, leading to reduced methylation of PHB and PHV genes. This study demonstrates the role of microRNA-directed DNA modification in regulating plant development.
A study published in Cancer Cell found that zebularine slows cancer-cell growth by up to 68%, but only 21% in normal cells. The drug works by demethylating specific genes, offering a promising new approach to cancer treatment with fewer side effects.
Researchers discovered a chromatin remodeling protein called DRD1 that enables RNA-directed DNA methylation in plants. This finding highlights the importance of chromatin remodeling in rendering nucleosomal DNA accessible to RNA signals and/or DNA methyltransferases.
Researchers have identified a potential DNA marker, SFRP2, that can be used to detect colorectal cancer in stool samples with high sensitivity and specificity. This breakthrough could lead to earlier detection and treatment of the disease.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered a critical regulatory role of protein CTCF in controlling gene imprinting in eggs. The study found that lower levels of CTCF resulted in higher DNA methylation and reduced fertility in female mice.
Researchers develop methylation filtration method to capture gene-rich regions, excluding repetitive DNA, and achieve 93% reduction in sequencing time. The approach enables complete gene sequence recovery from difficult-to-decipher genomes.
The study found that methylation levels in a specific gene can predict the seriousness of breast cancer. High levels of promoter methylation correlate with an altered structure of the gene, resulting in a tightly closed DNA configuration that prevents gene activation.
A French team of fertility experts discovered that maternal genetic imprinting errors can occur during egg follicle development in mice. The research found that methylation patterns, essential for normal development, were disrupted at the earliest stages of in-vitro cultivation.
USC researchers have discovered an oral cancer drug, zebularine, that can reactivate silenced genes and reduce tumor size in mice. The study found that zebularine is effective in both intraperitoneal and oral administration routes.