H3K4me2 functions as a repressive epigenetic mark in plants
Polymer coil–globule phase transition is a universal folding principle of Drosophila epigenetic domains
BackgroundLocalized functional domains within chromosomes, known as topologically associating domains (TADs), have been recently highlighted. In Drosophila, TADs are biochemically defined by epigenetic marks, this suggesting that the 3D arrangement may be the “missing link” between epigenetics and gene activity. Recent observations (Boettiger et al...
CGGBP1 regulates CTCF occupancy at repeats
Published in Epigenetics & Chromatin
BackgroundCGGBP1 is a repeat-binding protein with diverse functions in the regulation of gene expression, cytosine methylation, repeat silencing and genomic integrity. CGGBP1 has also been identified as a cooperator of histone-modifying enzymes and as a component of CTCF-containing complexes that regulate the enhancer–promoter looping. CGGBP1–CTCF ...
Histone chaperones and the Rrm3p helicase regulate flocculation in S. cerevisiae
Published in Epigenetics & Chromatin
BackgroundBiofilm formation or flocculation is a major phenotype in wild type budding yeasts but rarely seen in laboratory yeast strains. Here, we analysed flocculation phenotypes and the expression of FLO genes in laboratory strains with various genetic backgrounds.ResultsWe show that mutations in histone chaperones, the helicase RRM3 and the Hist...
Genome-wide RNAi screen in Drosophila reveals Enok as a novel trithorax group regulator
Published in Epigenetics & Chromatin
BackgroundPolycomb group (PcG) and trithorax group (trxG) proteins contribute to the specialization of cell types by maintaining differential gene expression patterns. Initially discovered as positive regulators of HOX genes in forward genetic screens, trxG counteracts PcG-mediated repression of cell type-specific genes. Despite decades of extensiv...
Detailed insight into the dynamics of the initial phases of de novo RNA-directed DNA methylation in plant cells
Published in Epigenetics & Chromatin
BackgroundMethylation of cytosines is an evolutionarily conserved epigenetic mark that is essential for the control of chromatin activity in many taxa. It acts mainly repressively, causing transcriptional gene silencing. In plants, de novo DNA methylation is established mainly by RNA-directed DNA-methylation pathway. Even though the protein machine...
TH2BS11ph histone mark is enriched in the unsynapsed axes of the XY body and predominantly associates with H3K4me3-conta...
Published in Epigenetics & Chromatin
BackgroundTH2B is a major histone variant that replaces about 80–85% of somatic H2B in mammalian spermatocytes and spermatids. The post-translational modifications (PTMs) on TH2B have been well characterised in spermatocytes and spermatids. However, the biological function(s) of these PTMs on TH2B have not been deciphered in great detail. In our at...
The DNA repair protein SHPRH is a nucleosome-stimulated ATPase and a nucleosome-E3 ubiquitin ligase
Published in Epigenetics & Chromatin
BackgroundMaintenance of genome integrity during DNA replication is crucial to the perpetuation of all organisms. In eukaryotes, the bypass of DNA lesions by the replication machinery prevents prolonged stalling of the replication fork, which could otherwise lead to greater damages such as gross chromosomal rearrangements. Bypassing DNA lesions and...
ZFP57 regulation of transposable elements and gene expression within and beyond imprinted domains
Published in Epigenetics & Chromatin
BackgroundKRAB zinc finger proteins (KZFPs) represent one of the largest families of DNA-binding proteins in vertebrate genomes and appear to have evolved to silence transposable elements (TEs) including endogenous retroviruses through sequence-specific targeting of repressive chromatin states. ZFP57 is required to maintain the post-fertilization D...
Accurate ethnicity prediction from placental DNA methylation data
Published in Epigenetics & Chromatin
BackgroundThe influence of genetics on variation in DNA methylation (DNAme) is well documented. Yet confounding from population stratification is often unaccounted for in DNAme association studies. Existing approaches to address confounding by population stratification using DNAme data may not generalize to populations or tissues outside those in w...
