Controlling patterns of DNA methylation
Friday, October 28, 2011 - 09:00
in Biology & Nature
A study performed by scientists in Dirk Schübeler's team at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research in Basel identifies DNA sequences that autonomously determine DNA methylation patterns. Genomic patterns of cytosine methylation are important for the proper functioning of cells during self renewal and development, and are often disrupted in disease. In a study published in the latest issue of the scientific journal Nature Genetics, Schübeler and his team show that the binding of transcription factors to specific DNA sequences determines DNA methylation levels at gene regulatory regions.