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The Active Motif Epigenetics Blog
Welcome to the Active Motif blog – your source for updates on the latest epigenetics news, cutting-edge epigenomics research, and hottest applications of epigenetic techniques. Stay up-to-date with what’s new in DNA methylation, chromatin, histone modification, and gene regulation research.
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Cutting Through CD8 T Cell Heterogeneity with CUT&RUN
September 25, 2024
Transcriptomic and epigenetic profiling cuts through CD8 T cell heterogeneity to describe a universal program of T cell progression toward dysfunction. We look at research from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center that uses transcriptomic and epigenetic profiling techniques, including CUT&RUN, to report on a universal program describing T cell progression in models of infection and cancer.
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Deciphering the Epigenetic Regulation of HIV-1 Latency using CUT&RUN
September 12, 2024
The application of CUT&RUN helps to decipher the epigenetic mechanisms behind a range of novel therapeutic approaches. We take a look at work from the University of No. Carolina, Chapel Hill, which employed CUT&RUN to decipher epigenetic regulation of HIV-1 latency. They report a critical role for histone deacetylases, which may aid the development of therapies that induce complete viral clearance.
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Invest in BANC-Seq, a New Method to Analyze Transcription Factor Binding to Chromatin
August 27, 2024
Binding affinities to native chromatin by sequencing (BANC-Seq) represents a fast, sure-fire method to measure transcription factor binding affinities for chromatin, incorporating binding affinity data when investigating gene regulation.
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The Power of THEMIS – a cfDNA Methylome & Fragmentome Tool for Early Cancer Detection
August 16, 2024
Integrating cell-free DNA methylome and fragmentome data into the ensemble THEMIS classifier can improve the early detection of cancer. Why hasn’t this been done before? Our review of this new approach in Nature Communications will get you thinking.
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HiDEF-Seq: Exploring How ssDNA Mutations Get Their Start
August 7, 2024
In our continuing series bringing you the latest Epigenetic and Genomic methods, we present a look at HiDEF-Seq – Hairpin Duplex Enhanced Fidelity sequencing – which reveals alterations to single-strand DNA that can give rise to double-strand DNA mutations. For the DNA Damage crowd!
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Modulating m6A Levels with Small-molecule Inhibitors - Why Target RNA Modifications?
July 25, 2024
A new study by Cai-Guang Yang at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences describes their work with small-molecule FTO inhibitors that modulate m6A levels. which may support basic epigenetics research and drive novel anti-cancer therapies. Our overview of the approach will get you up to speed with RNA Methylates, Readers, and Demethylates – all with huge potential in this treatment approach.
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Epigenetic Drug Screening in Patient-derived Organoids Identifies Potential Treatments for Aggressive Breast Cancer
July 15, 2024
We present the key aspects of a new study that reports how patient-derived organoids represent a robust platform for the screening of epigenetic drugs that may represent novel and effective triple-negative breast cancer treatments. Catch up quickly with our article on this important work by Xiali Yu and Xiaomao Guo from Fudan University.
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Parkinson's Disease Described at Single-cell Epigenetic & Transcriptomic Level
June 21, 2024
Paired transcriptomic and epigenetic analyses in single brain cells has illuminated which cells and what mechanisms are involved in age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Thanks to new research from the Yoshiaki Tanaka lab at Université de Montréal and Yoon-Seong Kim at Rutgers University. We present an overview of how they employed this paired profiling to post-mortem brain samples to explore the mechanisms involved in normal aging and Parkinson's disease development!
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Epigenetic Changes Can Prompt Tumorigenesis, Even in the Absence of Driver Mutations
June 12, 2024
A fascinating new study from Université de Montpellier reveals that epigenetic dysregulation, via transient suppression of polycomb-driven transcription, can induce tumorigenesis in Drosophila – in the absence of driver mutations! Check out this helpful overview of the work to learn how this may impact our way of thinking about cancer mechanisms and research.
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Multiomic Analysis of Stem Cell-derived Organoids
May 22, 2024
The analysis of transcriptional and chromatin accessibility profiles during the differentiation of human stem cell-derived kidney organoids provides a deeper understanding of organogenesis. We take a look at research from Washington University and MRC Laboratory in the UK, using single-nucleus ATAC-Seq and RNA-Seq to reveal the vast potential of stem cell-derived kidney organoids in understanding the gene regulatory networks controlling kidney organogenesis. Read all about both studies here!
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Calling Cards Technology Improved by Barcoded, Self-Reporting Transposons
May 13, 2024
Researchers from Washington University recently reported barcoded self-reporting transposon “Calling Cards” technology as an improved means to detect transcription factor binding sites. In this blog, get a concise overview of the method and how this advance supports improved exploration of transcription factor binding in parallel with gene expression changes.
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“Hit-and-Run” Epigenome Editing: An Exciting New Means of Reducing Cholesterol?
April 29, 2024
Researchers led by Angelo Lombardo at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute report a safe and durable hit-and-run epigenome editing technology that epigenetically silences gene expression to reduce cholesterol levels!
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FloChIP: A Quick and Easy ChIP-Seq Technique That Makes Epigenetics Go with the Flow
April 15, 2024
Do you want to go with the 'FloChIP'? Researchers from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne now report on a flexible, reproducible, and automated microfluidic ChIP platform that facilitates epigenetics experiments by improving protocol speed, reducing costs, and maintaining sensitivity!
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DBiT-Seq Takes Epigenetic and Transcriptomic Analysis to the Spatial Dimension
March 29, 2024
While researchers often study cells in isolation, their spatial location and surroundings in a tissue context play critical roles. Methods that enable epigenetic and transcriptomic analysis in the spatial dimension are becoming more valuable. Check out our recent summary of articles, both new and old, that employ and then develop DBiT-seq, Deterministic Barcoding in Tissue for spatial-omics Sequencing.
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NTT-Seq and Nano-CT: Nanobody-based Techniques that Deliver Epigenetic Profiles at the Single-cell Level
March 11, 2024
The recently developed NTT-Seq (nanobody-tethered transposition followed by sequencing) and nano-CT (nano-CUT&Tag) techniques apply nanobodies - small single polypeptide chain antibodies - to support the profiling of multiple epigenetic modalities at single-cell resolution. Get caught up with the latest in multiplexing and single-cell methods in this insightful blog article!
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An Epigenomic Compendium of Sporadic ALS Cases – R-loops & the DNA Methylome
February 22, 2024
Researchers report a compendium that describes the involvement of genetic variants and alterations to DNA methylomes and R-loop accumulation in sporadic cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Sounds daunting, but we break down some key concepts that show, once again, the relevance of epigenetic analysis in human disease.
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TIME-Seq – The Cost-effective Future of High-accuracy Epigenetic Clock Construction?
February 1, 2024
In this blog, we take a look at the exciting new research from David Sinclair’s lab at Harvard University and their new “TIME-Seq” technique, which promises a straightforward and cost-effective means of constructing high-accuracy DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks!
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Epigenomic Analysis of Cancer Liquid Biopsies - The Power and Limitations
January 17, 2024
The straightforward epigenomic analyses of liquid biopsies from cancer patients represent a minimally invasive means of understanding tumor gene expression programs and supporting patient management. Read how cfDNA as a sample type and new approaches including cfChIP-Seq and cfMeDIP-Seq are being explored for disease profiling.
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DNA Damage and Mutations Causing Problems? Don’t Get Even, Get MADDD-Seq!
December 7, 2023
A new preprint describes the principles and future applications of MADDD-Seq, a new technique which simultaneously detects DNA damage and mutations in a single assay. Check it out!
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Kacme – A New Histone H4 Modification Delivers Non-Mutually Exclusive Histone Acetylation and Methylation
November 28, 2023
Heads, Tails, or Heads and Tails? Researchers led by Matt Simon at Yale recently reported the non-exclusive nature of histone lysine methylation and acetylation on histone H4 in their paper describing "Kacme" as a novel and crucial post-translational modification! Learn a bit about this novel new PTM.
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Focus on 5hmC: History, Detection, and Applications
November 9, 2023
As research in epigenetics advances, our understanding of the significance of 5hmC and other epigenetic marks continues to grow, potentially opening new avenues for therapeutic interventions and disease management. However, many questions remain to be answered. How is DNA actively demethylated? Where does 5hmC exist, and what roles does 5hmC have during development? These questions are the focus of this review.
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Shifting the Paradigm – The Critical Role of Transcription Factor Interactions with RNA
October 19, 2023
In this article, we focus on some of the new research reports on the critical role of interactions between RNA and most transcription factors in the regulation of gene expression.
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RNA and DNA Methylation Crosstalk – Regulating Transposable Elements AND Cell Fate!
September 27, 2023
Evaluation of transposable element regulation in human embryonic stem cells reveals a critical role for crosstalk between RNA methylation and DNA methylation, both shown to have an impact on aging and cancer. In this article, we take it back to the beginning and recent discoveries on these modifications in stem cells, cell renewal and how this may affect tumorigenicity and multipotency.
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Epigenetic Reprogramming Reverses Age-related Alterations
September 14, 2023
Induced reprogramming can prompt genome-wide epigenetic alterations that reverse a multitude of age-related alterations observed in cells. In this blog, we look at the surprising connection between epigenetics and the so-called “Yamanaka factors” in support of the increasing application of epigenetic approaches to aging and longevity research.
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DNA Methylation’s Impact on cfDNA Fragmentation – Considerations When Choosing Biomarkers
August 29, 2023
A new understanding of how differential DNA methylation may impact cell-free DNA fragmentation may help in the identification of powerful biomarkers in liquid biopsies.
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Coffee, Tea, and CpG....does your favorite beverage affect DNA Methylation?
August 9, 2023
We hear so much about how “you are what you eat” and these days also what you drink! While not dipping into the topic of wine and resveratrol, we have seen some interesting Epigenetics on coffee and tea consumption...does it have an affect on health? In this article we sip on recent data that may point to some disease risk in humans from these tasty beverages and their role in differential DNA methylation of distinct CpGs.
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DISCOVER-Seq Tracks Off-target CRISPR/Cas-Gene Editing
July 27, 2023
DISCOVER-Seq and DISCOVER-Seq+ track the off-target activities of CRISPR/Cas-gene editing in vivo to ensure the safety of novel therapeutic approaches to disease. In this article, we bring this new and innovative idea into an easy-to-track framework that will help keep you on top of CRISPR science!
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Keeping Up to Date with KRAS-driven Cancer
July 14, 2023
Oncogenic mutations in the KRAS proto-oncogene lead to the generation of proteins that drive the development of lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. Patients with these types of KRAS-driven tumors have historically faced significant treatment challenges. The development of new strategies to target KRAS driven cancer has the potential to save thousands of lives each year. In this blog we discuss some of the exciting studies that have propelled the KRAS-centered cancer research field forward in recent months.
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RIBOTACs - Converting Functional Yet Silent Binders into Potent RNA Degraders
June 22, 2023
Targeted protein degradation through proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology emerged as a therapeutically relevant approach to understanding disease-associated mechanisms in conditions such as cancer. The RNA-centered version of this exciting technology – RIBOTAC – comprises an RNA-binder (such as a small-molecule drug) conjugated to another small molecule that recruits and locally activates RNase L1 to induce the enzymatic cleavage of a target RNA. How does it compare? Learn more here!
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Reverse Transcribe and Tagment (RT&Tag): A Novel Technique to Explore Chromatin-Associated RNA
May 19, 2023
The novel RT&Tag technique supports the tagmentation-based mapping of interactions between RNA and chromatin in intact eukaryotic nuclei.
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Aberrant R-loops in Innate Immunity: Friend and Foe?
May 9, 2023
The accumulation of cytoplasmic RNA–DNA hybrids induced in response to aberrant R-loop processing provokes innate immune responses and cell death. In this blog we look at this potentially new disease-associated mechanism for cell death.
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The Intertwined Lives of SIRT6, DNA Damage Repair, and Longevity
April 25, 2023
Sirtuins are a hot topic in slowing down aging. Here we present a roundup of research articles provides a recent history of the intertwined lives of SIRT6, DNA damage repair, epigenetics, and longevity!
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LINE-1 Transposable Elements: Can they Provide Liquid Biopsy Biomarkers for Early Cancer Detection and Management?
April 4, 2023
Detection of LINE-1 ORF1p in liquid biopsies has been proposed as an effective means of diagnosing cancer early and improving therapeutic outcomes. In this article, we take a look at two related, innovative studies describing how LINE-1 transposable elements may provide new biopsy biomarkers whose detection will improve the early diagnosis and long-term management of many cancers.
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Strategies for KRAS Research and Drug Discovery
March 8, 2023
RAS is one of the most common oncogenes, responsible for 20-30% of all human cancers, with KRAS being responsible for most of these. Current research has mostly focused on targeting KRAS mutants, but it’s only been in the last decade that we’ve seen development of methods to directly inhibit mutant KRAS. With new insight into mechanisms behind KRAS activation there is an ever-expanding pipeline of potential drugs which may change the way these dangerous cancers are treated. Here we provide a look at the history of RAS family proteins in the context of mutations and potentially targets to mitigate their action.
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Early Environmental Exposome Synergizes with Later Dietary Choices to Impact Metabolism
February 23, 2023
In this blog, we look at how exposure to these environmental stressors such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during early development can induce metabolic dysfunction following a metabolic challenge in the adult by reprogramming the epigenome. More evidence of how the exposome of our childhood may set us up to be more vulnerable to metabolic disease later in life.
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African Turquoise Killifish – A Colorful Up-and-Coming Model in Aging Research!
February 7, 2023
The connection between epigenetics, cell senescence and aging continue to grow. As the field expands, so does the range of organisms we’re finding well-suited for the task. Here we present a roundup of all recent protocols and research concerning the African turquoise killifish and its potential as a model for aging. This up-and-coming model may be everything you need for your aging-based research.
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Early-life Exposome Accelerates Epigenetic Aging – Is There No Going Back Now?
January 17, 2023
Accelerated epigenetic aging occurs in children exposed to the early-life exposome - the sum of exposures to environmental stressors during pre- and post-natal periods.
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DNA Methylation and Aging: Best of Friends, Worst of Enemies?
January 10, 2023
New research into links between DNA methylation, aging clocks, and Alzheimer’s disease. We look at two recent studies involving epigenetic clocks and epigenetic editing via CRISPR/Cas9 that further demonstrate the link between DNA methylation alterations and normal human aging.
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DNA Methylation for Predicting Prostate Cancer: Where Do We Stand?
December 13, 2022
Some say that Epigenetics touches everything. The marriage between DNA methylation, one of the earliest and most studied of epigenetic mechanisms, and its potential to be a powerful biomarker for disease is exciting and promising. In this overview, we look at prostate cancer research in particular - where we stand in this regard, and also a “new” biomarker associated with voltage-dependent calcium channels!
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The Bugs in the Bees Impact Epigenetic Mechanisms to Keep Things Social
November 29, 2022
Symbiotic interactions between animal hosts and their gut microbiota can include bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses all living in the digestive tract. Some can even modulate the function of the nervous system in a way tha can impact social behavior – normal and dysfunctional. We take a look at some cool work done, using honeybees as a model, that explores this connection between epigenetics, the brain, and behavior.
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Mass Spectrometry – Attaining Massive Amounts of Histone Modification Data from Small Clinical Samples
November 9, 2022
A new advance now permits the profiling of histone modifications from vanishingly small amounts of clinical samples via mass spectrometry. The ability to profile histone modification levels in tumor subpopulations may permit the field to make massive strides forward in our understanding of tumor metastasis, intratumor heterogeneity, therapeutic responses by tumors, and the role of tumor subpopulation interactions in driving tumorigenesis and identifying potentially useful biomarkers.
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Inflammaging – What Epigenetic Associations with Kidney Health Can Tells Us
October 25, 2022
Inflammaging is a somewhat new, but very engaging concept – how does our immune system affect the aging process? Here we look at research describing how accelerated epigenetic aging detected in the blood correlates with reduced kidney health as an example. These links may provide a means to further our understanding of inflammaging, and how to combat this chronic low-grade inflammatory process that may contribute to age-related disease development.
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Single-Cell DNA Methylation Sequencing: Small Scale Differences Explain Big Effects!
October 13, 2022
As an epigenetic mark, DNA methylation reveals valuable information on what’s going on inside a cell. In traditional bulk sequencing methods, DNA methylation signals are averaged out so that cell to cell variability in methylation is lost. Single-cell methods for DNA methylation can reveal these hidden signatures. But gathering DNA methylation data on a single-cell level has been challenging. Here we compare methods for scDNA Methylation assays that can uncover valuable insights into cell development, disease, and brain cell heterogeneity. As these have only been around for a short number of years, it’s almost certain that we’ve only just scratched the surface.
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LINE-1 Elements: Walk the LINE-1
September 13, 2022
While LINE-1 elements have been vital for fueling genetic variation and human evolution, their repression and that of other transposable elements is crucial to maintain homeostasis in cells so that our genomes continue to walk the line! Read how rogue LINE-1 expression is a target for combating its role in disease and aging.
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Proteomics and Epigenetics – Two Worlds Collide to Describe Disease-Related Mechanisms
August 22, 2022
Researchers combine blood-based epigenetic and proteomic analysis to uncover the underlying disease-associated mechanisms.
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Seeing the Bigger Picture – Spatially Resolving Chromatin Modification Profiles with Spatial-CUT&Tag
August 9, 2022
Spatial-CUT&Tag spatially resolves chromatin modification profiles in tissue samples to aid the exploration of epigenetic regulation, cell functions, and fate decisions.
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DNA Modifications Reveal the Splendor of the Plant Epigenetic Landscape
July 22, 2022
Would you like to explore the color and beauty of the epigenetic landscape of plants? Begin your journey with a discussion of recent publications highlighting the ongoing discovery and importance of DNA modifications in various plant species.
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ABBS – A Novel Method to Map DNA Methylation Genome-Wide at Base Resolution
July 11, 2022
Anchor-based bisulfite sequencing (ABBS) was developed for detection of DNA methylation genome-wide. ABBS is a new technology developed by Active Motif and recently described in Communications Biology (Chapin et al., Commun Biol., 2022).
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3’-Digital Gene Expression (3’-DGE) Sequencing: High Through-put at Low Cost
June 14, 2022
The RNA-Seq workflow normally begins with the isolation of RNA and continues with library prep. But RNA can be scary to work with! The scourge of lurking RNases has caused countless restless nights for researchers planning their first (or hundredth!) RNA extraction. Read about an alternative method of library prep, 3'-Digital Gene Expression (3'-DGE) which reduces sequencing depth requirements, the cost of sequencing, and has the potential to deliver good differential gene expression results where conventional RNA-Seq might fail.
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Could Long-term, Partial Reprogramming our Cells Battle Aging and Give us “Good Genes”?
June 1, 2022
Researchers reveal that long-term partial reprogramming does battle against the signs of aging and helps wild-type mice go long into a healthy old age. Here’s hoping for human healthy aging on the inside as well as the outside!
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Undruggable No More – Advances for Targeting Mutant Ras Proteins and Cancer
May 17, 2022
While they may not in a song, the Ras family of proteins do take a lead in several crucial physiological processes, across species and disease states. Volumes of work have written on Ras and continues today - to decipher RAS function, and to pursue understanding of Ras mutations for diagnostic and prognostic tools. In this article, we look at RAS research strategies, key articles, and future directions in this exciting field.
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Microbiome-induced Epigenetic Changes – Guardians Against Inflammation
May 5, 2022
The gut microbiome helps to maintain intestinal homeostasis by creating a specific epigenetic landscape at regulatory regions under normal and inflammatory conditions. How can we support the normal, and reduce the inflamed?
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PROTAC-mediated Targeted Protein Degradation in Cancer: PARP, EGFR, and SMARCAs in Focus
April 13, 2022
Proteolysis-Targeting Chimera (PROTAC) protein degraders are the emerging alternative to small molecule-based targeting. Here we look at key protein targets and discuss how PROTAC-mediated targeted protein degradation represents a promising new approach to cancer treatment.
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Life in the FASTQ Lane
March 25, 2022
While many “bench scientists” are familiar with the workflows of ChIP-Seq and ATAC-Seq, the steps between sequencing and fully analyzed data is sometimes thought of as a mystery known only to bioinformatic experts. This article provides peek behind the curtain of the informatic analysis we perform as part of our end-to-end epigenetic services.
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Multiomic Epigenetic Analysis Turns Short Stories into Epic Tales
March 9, 2022
A multiomics-based approach to epigenetic research through the combination of multiple next-generation techniques has the potential to turn any short scientific tale into an epic multilayered story of gene regulation!
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Epigenetic Keys Unlock Secrets of the Heart
February 4, 2022
The epigenetics of cardiac disease is a growing field as researchers look for epigenetic biomarkers predictive of heart health. Can a multiomic approach get us there sooner and enable detection of heart disease early on?
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An Epigenetic Link Helps the Gut Microbiome to Battle Obesity
January 26, 2022
Researchers are getting in to how the gut microbiome can influence epigenetic processes and gene expression, with insight that may reveal new ways to battle obesity.
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Library QC for ATAC-Seq and CUT&Tag AKA “Does My Library Look Okay?”
December 8, 2021
“Does my library look okay?” is the most common question posed to Active Motif technical support. Get the practical scoop on quality control for ATAC-seq and CUT&Tag libraries. Find out how much library to expect from different libraries, what they should look like, and what to do if it’s not as expected.
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RNA Methylation Keeps R-loops Under Control to Maintain Genome Integrity
December 1, 2021
Ever hear of a DNA/RNA hybrid? These molecular structures, called R-loops, are an emerging “hot topic” in genome organization and stability – do they hold the key to therapeutic strategies that may protect against genome instability found in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases?
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DNA Methylation in Cell-free DNA (cfDNA): Benefits, Limitations & Future Potential for Precision Medicine
November 2, 2021
What do we mean when they say “cell free” DNA, and why is this emerging as a potentially invaluable tool for precision medicine?
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Stem Cell Exhaustion: How Metabolism and Epigenetics Impact Stem Cell Aging
October 1, 2021
Stem Cell Exhaustion: alterations to key metabolites during aging impacts epigenetic profiles and induces mesenchymal stem cell exhaustion and a reduction in bone-forming potential. Is there a rejuvenation strategy to be found?
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Alzheimer’s Disease: The Impact of Gut Bacteria and Hippocampal DNA Methylation
September 14, 2021
In a fascinating new article, researchers from the laboratory of Jacob Raber from the Oregon Health & Science University (Portland, OR, USA) have moved one step closer to an understanding of how complex factors such as the gut’s microbial flora and epigenetic modifications in the brain can impact behavior and cognition in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
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Oncohistones: Histone Mutations & Their Oncogenic Effects
June 24, 2021
Oncohistones are amino acid mutations in Nucleosomes shown to have strong correlation to many types of cancers. The cancer-type specificity of oncohistones may facilitate targeted therapy, while limiting the side effects that occur with chemotherapy. Methods to detect these mutations could also help in diagnostic and prognostic applications in personalized medicine.
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Epigenetics of the Indian Cobra: Multi-Omics Breakthroughs for Recombinant Antivenom
May 11, 2021
A study which combines elegant, high-throughput, and cutting-edge omics helps to assemble the Indian cobra genome and may aid in the creation of an effective recombinant antivenom.
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Complete Guide to Understanding Single‑Cell RNA‑Seq
March 4, 2021
Single-cell RNA-seq techniques have made it possible to study transcriptomics in heterogeneous samples; driving advances in our understanding of cancer, embryonic development and neurodegenerative disease. This article covers the history, protocols, and applications of Single-cell RNA-seq.
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Complete Guide to Understanding and Using ATAC‑Seq
February 9, 2021
The ATAC-Seq method was just published in 2013 and it has already become one of the most common and powerful ways to study chromatin states on a genome-wide level. This article covers what ATAC-Seq is and how to use it in your research.
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Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Using CUT&Tag Assays
November 24, 2020
CUT&Tag shows a lot of promise and has the potential to alleviate some ChIP limitations, but it also has its own set of limitations that must be considered. This article covers what CUT&Tag is and describes the advantages and drawbacks of this method.
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Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Single-Cell ATAC-Seq
September 30, 2020
In this article, we describe how single-cell ATAC-Seq (scATAC-Seq) works and highlight the benefits and the drawbacks of scATAC-Seq relative to bulk ATAC-Seq.
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Publication on the Development of Recombinant Neutralizing Antibodies that Block SARS-CoV-2 Infection
July 21, 2020
A team of scientists developed recombinant antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2. Several of these antibodies were strong binders to the Spike S1 protein or the RBD and were able to effectively neutralize the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that they could be further developed and used as therapeutics against COVID-19.
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Development & Characterization of Recombinant Human COVID-19 Antibodies
June 3, 2020
Active Motif has developed recombinant human COVID-19 antibodies. These antibodies are now being made available to the research community and we are looking for partners and collaborators to continue the development of these recombinant antibodies for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes.
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Guide to Understanding the Benefits and Uses of Recombinant Antibodies
May 21, 2020
Antibodies are one of the most common, and most powerful, tools used by researchers. This article covers what recombinant antibodies are, and how they are different from polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies.
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Improving the Resolution of Hi-C Assays with Micro-C
May 11, 2020
To study 3-D chromosomal interactions, methods like Hi-C have been developed to provide high-resolution mapping of genome-wide chromatin interactions. A new method called Micro-C has recently been reported that has higher resolution and higher signal to noise ratio than other existing methods.
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Using Epigenomic Data to Accurately Predict and Distinguish Cell Types
April 28, 2020
A new research study reports development of a mathematical algorithm to analyze gene expression and Hi-C datasets that predicts cell types better than existing methods, even for large sets of cell types containing multiple different human normal and cancer tissues.
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Guide to Understanding and Using Hi-C and Related Chromosome Conformation Capture Assays
April 20, 2020
There are many different ways to investigate the 3-D structure of chromatin, such as 3C, 4C, 5C, and Hi-C. This article discusses the basic methodology and applications of the most commonly-used chromosome conformation capture-based assays, with a focus on Hi-C.
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Prions & Epigenetics: Prion-Mediated Inheritance of Active Chromatin States
March 25, 2020
New research identifies a prion that acts as an epigenetic, trans-generational activator of yeast genes, representing a novel mechanism for the inheritance of activated chromatin states.
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DNA Methylation Changes in Vapers & Smokers
March 24, 2020
Vaping and smoking both led to similar epigenetic changes, highlighting the fact that vaping is not a healthy alternative to smoking. These results suggest that the use of the e-cigarettes should be limited, and teenagers and young adults should be discouraged from vaping.
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Epigenetics of Autism, Microbiome & Methylation, and piRNAs & Fertility
February 25, 2020
This latest epigenetics news summary covers a link between DNA methylation and autism, how the microbiome regulates epigenetics, and how loss of piRNAs leads to infertility in worms.
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Celebrating the 2020 International Day of Women and Girls in Science
February 11, 2020
In an effort to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science, the UN has declared February 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. To celebrate this day, we asked some of our women scientists to reflect on their experiences and offer advice to other women and girls entering biotechnology.
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Complete Guide to Sonication of Chromatin for ChIP Assays
January 31, 2020
Chromatin shearing/sonication is one of the most important steps in the ChIP workflow and is generally the step that exhibits the most variability. This article discusses the differences between each available sonication method and highlights their pros and cons.
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Epigenetics of Liquid Biopsies, Histone Ubiquitination, and piRNAs & SUMO
January 22, 2020
This latest epigenetics news summary covers approaches to investigate epigenetics and proteomics of liquid biopsies, a new role for histone ubiquitination in regulation of gene expression, and new insights into piRNA-mediated transcriptional silencing.
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Improved High-Throughput Sonication and Epigenetic Analysis with PIXUL-ChIP
December 13, 2019
One of the key steps in the ChIP workflow is fragmentation of chromatin, and there are many ways to do it. A new sonication instrument called PIXUL was recently developed that shears DNA in a high-throughput manner and offers many advantages over other methods.
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DNA Methylation & Alzheimer’s Disease, New Chromatin Analysis Method, & Non-CpG DNA Methylation
December 3, 2019
This latest epigenetics news summary covers discovery of a new biomarker that might help diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s disease, a new method to analyze the composition of different types of chromatin, and a new mechanism of gene regulation mediated by DNA methylation at non-CpG sites.
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Lamin A/C Acetylation by the NSL Complex Contributes to Nuclear Architecture and Genome Stability
November 12, 2019
New research describes an interconnected web of gene regulation within the nucleus, showing that lamin A/C acetylation is critical for nuclear lamina integrity and thus plays a role in regulating chromatin structure, nuclear organization, and ultimately gene expression.
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Hypoxia Researchers Win 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
November 8, 2019
The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to the hypoxia researchers that discovered how cells sense and adapt to oxygen variations. This article discusses what hypoxia is and why it’s so important.
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Can You Really Reverse Your Epigenetic Age?
October 1, 2019
A recent report in the field of epigenetics claimed that humans could reverse their epigenetic clock. This research led to both excitement that we might be able to take steps to live longer and healthier lives and skepticism that the results might not be real. This article covers all the details.
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Celebrating 50 Years of RNA Polymerases – the Discovery that Initiated Eukaryotic Transcription Research
September 27, 2019
The discovery of RNA polymerase enzymes was first published in 1969, and the field has come a long way in the last 50 years. This article covers some seminal discoveries in transcription research, the basics of the three mammalian RNA polymerases, and how these enzymes work with other factors to synthesize RNA.
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Discussing the Past, Present, and Future of Epigenetics with Active Motif Founder Joe Fernandez
September 13, 2019
Joe Fernandez, Active Motif’s founder, played a significant role in the evolution of the biotech industry. He’s seen where the industry has been, and has a good idea where it’s going. Joe opens up about how he got started in science, what excites him, and what the next big thing in epigenetics will be.
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Next-Gen ChIP-Seq: Genome-Wide Single-Cell Analysis with Antibody-Guided Chromatin Tagmentation Methods
September 5, 2019
New methods are improving the efficiency of epigenomic analysis, enabling analysis of histone modifications at the single-cell level. Many of these methods are variations on Active Motif’s patented TAM-ChIP™ technology, which utilizes antibody-guided tagmentation.
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How Do Nucleosomes at Centromeres Differ from Nucleosomes at Other Chromatin Regions?
September 4, 2019
Centromeres play essential roles during the cell cycle, but how centromeric nucleosomes and other proteins work together during mitosis is not completely understood. Recent research using cryo-EM sheds light on this critical process.
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Using RIME to Analyze Protein-Protein Interactions on Chromatin
September 3, 2019
There are many methods for detecting protein-protein interactions. The RIME protocol is gaining popularity because of its unique advantages over the other methods. This article covers what RIME is and how it works, and provides tips to researchers that want to get started with RIME.
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New Research on the Link Between Chromosome Topology and Regulation of Gene Expression
August 22, 2019
The link between nucleosome organization (and epigenetic modifications of histones) and gene expression is solidly established, but the functions of higher-order chromatin structures are still not completely understood. This article covers the latest research in this area.
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RNA Methylation Contributes to mRNA Mobility and Root Growth in Plants
August 6, 2019
RNA mobility in plants, which involves the transport of RNA to different plant tissues, is a phenomenon that has been known to exist for years. However, the mechanism involved, and the biological roles of this activity are not fully understood. RNA methylation might be the answer.
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Discussing X Chromosome Dosage Compensation in Drosophila & Mammals with Professor Asifa Akhtar
July 30, 2019
The male-specific lethal (MSL) complex, and the histone acetyltransferase MOF in particular, contributes to regulation of the X chromosome dosage compensation process in flies and also has important roles regulating gene expression in humans. Learn about the latest research in this field from expert Asifa Akhtar.
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The Roles of RNA Epigenetics & RNA Processing in Embryonic Development
July 26, 2019
Early events in embryonic development involve many different mechanisms, including epigenetic changes and post-transcriptional activities such as mRNA processing and modifications. A recent paper investigated the roles of m6A and the RNA-binding protein hnRNPA2/B1 in this process.
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Epigenetic Enhancer Regulation Contributes to the Autoimmune Disease Scleroderma
July 8, 2019
Scleroderma (also known as systemic sclerosis, or SSc) is a rare but aggressive autoimmune disease. ~35% of patients with SSc die within 10 years of their diagnosis, there is no cure. A recent paper linked epigenetics and SSc, providing hope that epigenetic drugs might be improve its treatment.
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Epigenetic Control of Embyro Pluripotency & Zygotic Genome Activation
July 2, 2019
Have you ever thought about how all the cells in your body started out as a single fertilized embryo cell that developed into all of the different cell types present in your body today? A process called zygotic genome activation allows this to happen, and we’re learning more about how epigenetics is involved.
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Discussing Spatial Organization of the Human Genome with Professor Wendy Bickmore
June 24, 2019
The spatial organization of the human genome within the nucleus plays important roles in the regulation of gene expression and other cellular processes. We caught up with expert Wendy Bickmore to discuss topological associating domains (TADs) and their role in enhancer-promoter interactions, epigenetic modifications to the globular domains of histones, how nuclear pores deserve more attention, and much more.
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What Can Histone Methylation Patterns in Kidney Cancer Teach Us About Disease Progression & New Treatments Options?
June 19, 2019
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the 10 most common cancers in both men and women in the United States and existing treatments are often not effective. New epigenetic drugs might be the answer.
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Complete Guide to Using Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS) for Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis
June 14, 2019
The RRBS method was first published in 2005, in the early days of NGS when sequencing was still expensive, as a way to get genome-wide single-nucleotide DNA methylation analysis for lower cost that whole genome bisulfite sequencing. This article covers what RRBS is and why it’s still a powerful method to study 5-mC.
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New Genomics-Based Personalized Colorectal Cancer Treatments
June 4, 2019
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and most deadly types of cancer in the United States, but the available treatments do not work well for many patients, highlighting the need for new therapeutic approaches. New research suggests that personalized treatments for CRC might be coming soon!
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New Research Suggests that Alzheimer’s Disease Proteins Are Prions
May 31, 2019
Recent estimates suggest that nearly 6 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in the US, making it the 6th leading cause of death. New research suggests that AD might actually be caused by prions, completely changing the way we think about this serious disease.
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Discussing Heterochromatin & Phase Separation with Dr. Gary Karpen
May 28, 2019
How much do you know about heterochromatin? We caught up with heterochromatin expert Gary Karpen to discuss repressive histone marks, whether heterochromatin is really inaccessible to other proteins, phase separation, and much more.
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How Epigenetics & RNA Can Help Save the Honey Bees
May 24, 2019
Honey bee populations worldwide are declining drastically, but a new study sheds light on how a transmissible RNAi pathway might be able to help honey bees become more resistant to pathogens and other threats.
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H3Q5Ser & Happy Histones, New BRD Tools, ssChIC-Seq, Medusavirus Histones, & More Epigenetics News
May 7, 2019
This latest epigenetics news summary covers histone serotonylation, using epigenetics to improve prediction of the outcomes of premature infants, new tools to study bromodomain proteins, single-cell chromatin analysis with a new method called ssChIC-Seq, and the discovery of a large DNA virus that encodes its own histones.
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Discussing Diabetes & Epigenetics with Dr. Jean-Sébastien Annicotte
April 11, 2019
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that affects almost 400 million people worldwide, which is >8% of the global population. We recently caught up with Dr. Jean-Sébastien Annicotte to discuss the role of epigenetics in diabetes and obesity.
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Oncohistones, Gene Regulation by CpG Islands, and Epigenetics of Memory
April 2, 2019
This latest epigenetics news summary covers “oncohistones” and the role histone mutations play in cancer, new research that decouples the contributions of CpG density and DNA methylation status on the regulation of gene expression, and the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the stable maintenance of “memories” in yeast.
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Guide to Generating the Best ChIP Data
March 15, 2019
The chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay has become one of the most popular laboratory techniques to investigate the association of DNA-binding proteins and histones with chromatin. This article covers the major challenges of ChIP assays and how to overcome them to generate the best ChIP data.
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Multiplex Single-Molecule Resolution Epigenetic Analysis with ChIA-Drop & More Epigenetics News
March 1, 2019
This summary of the latest epigenetics news covers ChIA-Drop, a new method for investigating chromatin interactions with single-molecule precision, a role for DNA methylation in coronary artery disease, and an epigenomic study that identified DNA sequence motifs associated with histone modifications.
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Targeting Epigenetic Enzymes for Drug Discovery & Development
February 22, 2019
Epigenetic targets are some of the most promising classes of druggable targets to emerge in a decade. These targets are relevant to almost every field of research and disease area. This article highlights the commonly-studied classes of proteins and enzymes in epigenetic drug discovery.
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Total Epigenome of the Heart
February 12, 2019
Valentine's Day is all about love and hearts. Just like love, heart tissue is complex. Also like love, in epigenomics it's important to focus on the details, the small stuff. It’s difficult to analyze the epigenome of small numbers of cells isolated from tissues, but this type of study is important to really understand many diseases. This article highlights how researchers analyzed small numbers of cardiomyocyte cells from heart tissue to characterize the epigenetic changes that accompany aging and heart failure.
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Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science
February 11, 2019
February 11th is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Active Motif is celebrating this important day by highlighting some advice from some of our female colleagues and contributing to the awareness for the increasing problem that fewer children, and girls in particular, are pursuing careers in science.
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The Role of DNA Methylation in Asthma and More Epigenetics News
February 4, 2019
This summary of the latest epigenetics news covers a role for DNA methylation in asthma, a new high-resolution map of human genetic variation and the role of epigenetics in mutation hot spots, and a high-throughput analysis of long non-coding RNA regulation in different tissues.
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The San Diego Chromatin Club is Bringing Local Epigenetics Experts Together
January 30, 2019
The San Diego Chromatin Club is a seminar series that brings together epigenetics researchers from all over the Greater San Diego Area. This scientific event fosters communication and collaborations between leading researchers, and best of all Active Motif sponsors the event and provides the pizza, sodas, and beer! Check out this summary of the most recent Chromatin Club meeting.
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Top Epigenetics Breakthroughs of 2018
January 25, 2019
2018 has come and gone, but before we focus too much on making plans and resolutions for 2019, let’s take a few minutes to look back at all the great epigenetics and gene regulation breakthroughs that were published in 2018. We put together this list of our favorite publications from last year. We cover the best new epigenetic techniques, the most interesting novel epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, and the coolest epigenetic applications.
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Please contact us at [email protected] or on Twitter (@activemotif) if you're interested in contributing to our blog or to share your thoughts and feedback!
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