Our advances in technology allow us to sequence DNA to uncover genetic differences not only between individuals, but also between normal and diseased cells within an individual. However, there is still a lot we have yet to understand regarding the epigenetic mechanisms that also contribute to our individuality and to disease. The 80th Biochemical Society Annual Symposium entitled Epigenetic Mechanisms in Development and Disease brought together some leading researchers in the field who discussed their latest insights into epigenetic mechanisms. Methylation of DNA has been the focus of much study from both a developmental perspective and imprinting of genes to its contribution to diseases such as cancer. Recently, the modification of methylcytosine to hydoxymethylcytosine within cells was uncovered, which opened a host of potential new mechanisms, and a flurry of new studies are underway to uncover its significance. Epigenetics is not confined to a study of DNA, and the post-translational modifications on the histone proteins have a significant role to play in regulating gene expression. There are many different modifications and, as shown at the Symposium, new variations used by cells are still being uncovered. We are some way to identifying how these modifications are added and removed and the protein complexes responsible for these changes. A focus on the function of the complexes and the interactions between individual modifications to regulate gene expression is advancing our knowledge, as discussed in the accompanying papers, although there are clearly plenty of opportunities for new breakthroughs to be made.
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Conference Article|
May 23 2013
Epigenetic Mechanisms in Development and Disease
Adele Murrell;
Adele Murrell
*Epigenetics and Imprinting Laboratory, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, U.K.
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Paul J. Hurd;
Paul J. Hurd
†School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, U.K.
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Ian C. Wood
Ian C. Wood
1
‡School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (emaili.c.wood@leeds.ac.uk).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
April 10 2013
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2013 Biochemical Society
2013
Biochem Soc Trans (2013) 41 (3): 697–699.
Article history
Received:
April 10 2013
Citation
Adele Murrell, Paul J. Hurd, Ian C. Wood; Epigenetic Mechanisms in Development and Disease. Biochem Soc Trans 1 June 2013; 41 (3): 697–699. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20130051
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