New research from UNC has established the first link between the two most fundamental epigenetic tags -- histone modification and DNA methylation -- in humans. This study implicates a protein called UHRF1 in the maintenance of these epigenetic tags. Because the protein has been found to be defective in cancer, the finding could help scientists understand not only how microscopic chemical changes can ultimately affect the epigenetic landscape but also give clues to the underlying causes of disease and cancer. Read more here.
Study mentioned: Rothbart SB, et al. Association of UHRF1 with methylated H3K9 directs the maintenance of DNA methylation. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2012 Sep 30. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23022729
No comments:
Post a Comment