BioEssays

Edited By: Andrew Moore

Online ISSN: 1521-1878

Epigenetics

Epigenetic_mechanisms

Find below our most recent articles on a variety of aspects of epigenetics, from chromatin organisation to the role of epigenetics in cancer. This collection sheds light on, and raises new questions on the role of chemical modifications of DNA and chromatin, and non-coding RNAs, in modulating gene expression in a variety of processes from development to cancer. We hope you enjoy delving into this concentration of most recent thinking, insights and future perspectives in epigenetics.

For primer literature related to the contents below, see also the Encyclopedia of Life Sciencesentry Epigenetics and Disease.

epigenetics book

For further reading about epigenetics, please also take a look at Epigenetic Regulation and Epigenomics, edited by Robert A. Meyers.

Is adult stem cell aging driven by conflicting modes of chromatin remodeling?
Jens Przybilla, Joerg Galle and Thimo Rohlf, BioEssays, Volume 34, Issue 10, October 2012, pages 841-848.
DOI: 10.1002/bies.201100190

age-related changes of chromatin structure, DNA-methylation, histone modification, inheritance of epigenetic information, stem cell plasticity

We hypothesize that age-related changes of chromatin structure originate in the limited cellular capability to inherit epigenetic information. Spontaneous loss of histone modification, e.g., during replication gives rise to changes in DNA methylation and accordingly in gene expression, manifesting a conflict between stem cell plasticity and long term gene silencing.

Epigenetics meets mathematics: Towards a quantitative understanding of chromatin biology
Philipp A. Steffen, Joao P. Fonseca and Leonie Ringrose, BioEssays, Volume 34, Issue 10, October 2012, pages 901-913.
DOI: 10.1002/bies.201200076

chromatin, epigenetics, mathematical modelling, quantification, rate constants

Current models for chromatin mediated gene regulation often describe molecules as binding, modifying or recruiting other molecules, but with little reference to the quantitative differences between them. In this review we explore how quantitative and mathematical approaches can give insights into mechanisms of epigenetic regulation.

Longevity and the long arm of epigenetics: Acquired parental marks influence lifespan across several generations
Shanshan Pang and Sean P. Curran, BioEssays, Volume 34, Issue 8, August 2012, pages 652-654.
DOI: 10.1002/bies.201200046

epigenetics, lifespan, longevity, parental marks

A recent study reported that longevity in Caenorhabditits elegans can be inherited over several generations. This is probably achieved through the following epigenetic mechanism: inherited demethylated histones at some central loci, such as miRNA, transcription factors or signaling regulators affect the expression of certain genes leading to the longevity phenotype.

First annual meeting of the EpiGeneSys Network of Excellence: Moving epigenetics towards systems biology
Alysia vandenBerg and Leonie Ringrose, BioEssays, Volume 34, Issue 7, July 2012, pages 620-625.
DOI: 10.1002/bies.201200026

epigenetics, EpiGeneSys, meeting report

This meeting united participants from the fields of experimental epigenetics, mathematics and computational biology, to discuss results and challenges in the endeavour to explore points of synergy between these fields. The design shown here expresses the idea of moving complex biological phenomena (left nucleosome) towards precise mathematical descriptions (right nucleosome).

Genes at work in random bouts
Alexey Golubev, BioEssays, Volume 34, Issue 4, April 2012, pages 311-319.
DOI: 10.1002/bies.201100119

cell cycle, cell differentiation, embryogenesis, gene expression, stochasticity

Stochastically discontinuous gene activity makes cell cycle duration and cell fate decisions varaible, thus providing for stem cells plasticity.

Histone crotonylation specifically marks the haploid male germ cell gene expression program
Emilie Montellier, Sophie Rousseaux, Yingming Zhao and Saadi Khochbin, BioEssays, Volume 34, Issue 3, March 2012, pages 187-193.
DOI: 10.1002/bies.201100141

acetylation, H2A.X, H2A.Z, histone variants, macroH2A

Post-meiotic male-specific gene expression.

The molecular and mathematical basis of Waddington's epigenetic landscape: A framework for post-Darwinian biology?
Sui Huang, BioEssays, Volume 34, Issue 2, February 2012, pages 149-157.
DOI: 10.1002/bies.201100031

attractor, epigenetics, gene regulatory network, Neo-Darwinism, systems biology

The straightforward causality implicit in one genotype leading to only one phenotype must nowadays be expanded to incorporate epigenetics, gene regulatory networks and gene expression noise.

Long non-coding RNA modifies chromatin
Alka Saxena and Piero Carninci, BioEssays, Volume 33, Issue 11, November 2011, pages 830-839.
DOI: 10.1002/bies.201100084

airn/Kcnq1ot1, enhancers, epigenetic modifications, non-coding RNA, Xist/HOTAIR, imprinting

Epigenetic silencing by long non-coding RNAs.

Is there a genomically imprinted social brain?
James P. Curley, BioEssays, Volume 33, Issue 9, September 2011, pages 662-668.
DOI: 10.1002/bies.201100060

genomic imprinting, Grb10, social behavior, social brain

A recent mouse study revealed that the imprinted gene Grb10 governs unique aspects of mouse social behaviour.

Epigenetics and the brain: Transcriptome sequencing reveals new depths to genomic imprinting
Gavin Kelsey, BioEssays, Volume 33, Issue 5, May 2011, pages 362–367.
DOI: 10.1002/bies.201100004

DNA methylation, epigenetics, imprinting, next generation sequencing

The recent discovery of more than a thousand potentially imprinted genes in the mouse brain may help to elucidate epigenetic regulation of brain function and behaviour.

The changing faces of HP1: From heterochromatin formation and gene silencing to euchromatic gene expression
So Hee Kwon and Jerry L. Workman, BioEssays, Volume 33, Issue 4, April 2011, pages 280–289.
DOI: 10.1002/bies.201000138

euchromatin, heterochromatin, HP1, methylation of H3K9, transcription elongation

HP1 acts as a positive regulator of transcription.

Gene silencing is an ancient means of producing multiple phenotypes from the same genotype
Neil A. Youngson, Suyinn Chong and Emma Whitelaw, BioEssays, Volume 33, Issue 2, February 2011, pages 95–99.
DOI: 10.1002/bies.201000122

The “occlusis” model of cell fate restriction
Bruce T. Lahn, BioEssays, Volume 33, Issue 1, January 2011, pages 13–20.
DOI: 10.1002/bies.201000090

Please also read the following articles from the Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine:

EMCBMM