综述: 表观遗传之染色质重塑

真核细胞中的染色质重塑因子种类繁多,多数以蛋白多聚体的形式存在于细胞中．不同的染色质重塑因子在特定时间定位于特定的核小体上,通过改变染色质结构,影响基因转录活性,进而确保细胞内各种生物学过程的正确运行．另外,染色质重塑因子根据所含功能结构域的不同,大致分为SWI/SNF、ISWI、CHD和INO80四大家族,不同的染色质重塑因子之间既有蛋白质结构和酶活性的相似性,各自又有其特异性．本综述的宗旨在于全面概括和总结染色质重塑因子的分类、结构特点以及其在细胞内的生物学功能,为深入研究染色质重塑因子的生物学功能,尤其是在发育和疾病发生中的作用机制提供理论基础．     

DMMC Workshop: Unravelling Chromatin and the Role of Epigenetics in Disease

No abstract available at this time.     

Epigenetics in Rome: Breaking news from the Chromatin Remodeling and Human Disease Workshop

In 2009 the Istituto Regina Elena (IRE) and Istituto Dermopatico dell' Immacolata (IDI), joined their efforts to organize the “First IRE Annual Workshop on Chromatin Remodeling and Human Disease, which had place in Rome on the 3-4 of December 2009. The Workshop program listed a number of presentations on various epigenetic phenomena believed to have an impact on human diseases. Internationally recognized leaders in this field from Europe and USA have brilliantly accomplished this highly compelling task. Special emphasis has been placed on emerging understanding of epigenetic mechanisms as they relate to the physiopathology of numerous human diseases. How this field scientifically and technologically recently progressed in this direction, was clearly evident from the presentations and discussions having place during the workshop.     

Epigenetics

Emerging evidence is shedding light on a large and complex network of epigenetic modifications at play in human stem cells. This “epigenetic landscape” governs the fine-tuning and precision of gene expression programs that define the molecular basis of stem cell pluripotency, differentiation and reprogramming. This review will focus on recent progress in our understanding of the processes that govern this landscape in stem cells, such as histone modification, DNA methylation, alterations of chromatin structure due to chromatin remodeling and non-coding RNA activity. Further investigation into stem cell epigenetics promises to provide novel advances in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide array of human diseases.