Epigenetics News and Research

RSS

Epigenetics is the study of chemical reactions that influence gene expression, through activation or deactivation of genes at specific times and locations.

Children exposed to maternal smoking in utero have increased DNA methylation in AXL gene

Children whose mothers or grandmothers smoked during pregnancy are at increased risk of asthma in childhood, but the underlying causes of this are not well understood. Now a new study indicates changes in a process called DNA methylation that occurs before birth may be a root cause.

19 May 2011

Researchers design new tool for identifying protein function from genetic code

Mayo Clinic researchers have designed a new tool for identifying protein function from genetic code. A team led by Stephen Ekker, Ph.D., succeeded in switching individual genes off and on in zebrafish, then observing embryonic and juvenile development.

10 May 2011

Genome epigenetic analysis reveals new ways to detect and treat breast cancer

The most comprehensive analysis yet of the epigenetic modifications present in breast cancer has revealed potentially important new ways to detect and treat the disease, Belgian researchers have reported.

5 May 2011

TGen licenses ONCO-101 cancer drug to Syracuse

The Translational Genomics Research Institute has licensed its first drug, a unique compound that targets cancer tumors by modifying the actions of proteins.

5 May 2011

Chromatrap Pro-A Spin Columns improve ChIP assay performance

Porvair Filtration Group has announced the launch of the first product, a ChIP kit containing 24 assays, based upon its novel Chromatrap™ Pro-A Chromatin ImmunoPrecipitation (ChIP) technology. The exciting new product has been enthusiastically tested at 12 beta sites around the world with excellent results and feedback.

From Chromatrap® - Porvair Sciences Ltd 3 May 2011

Researchers discover two mutations responsible for neurological condition

Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered two mutations responsible for a devastating neurological condition they first identified 15 years ago. The researchers say their study -- appearing in Nature Genetics -- has revealed a new neural pathway that may help understand a variety of similar conditions.

2 May 2011

UCLA study findings hold promise to cure diabetes

Simply put, people develop diabetes because they don't have enough pancreatic beta cells to produce the insulin necessary to regulate their blood sugar levels.

30 Apr 2011

IMPAKT 2011 conference to highlight new breast cancer studies

"The presentations at this year's IMPAKT reveal the innovative and diverse approaches that investigators are taking to identify the most encouraging new agents both before clinical evaluation and in early clinical studies. These range from ideas for novel clinical designs to the development of more sensitive and specific biomarkers and to data sharing that allows a more objective assessment of compounds prior to commitment of major clinical resources."

30 Apr 2011

Mother's diet during pregnancy can influence child's risk of obesity

Scientists have discovered that a mother's nutrition during pregnancy can strongly influence her child's risk of obesity many years later.

19 Apr 2011

Pig stem cell transplants key to future research into retina treatment

A team of American and Chinese scientists studying the role of stem cells in repairing damaged retina tissue have found that pigs represent an effective proxy species to research treatments for humans. The study, published in STEM CELLS, demonstrates how cells can be isolated and transplanted between pigs, overcoming a key barrier to the research.

13 Apr 2011

Polaris' ADI-PEG 20 exhibits potential against AML, GBM and bladder cancer

Polaris Group announced today that data from preclinical studies suggest ADI-PEG 20, the Company's pegylated arginine deiminase therapeutic, may be effective in treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML), glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and bladder cancer.

8 Apr 2011

Expression of key tumor suppressor protein induces premature aging

Cancer risk increases with age, and scientists have long perceived a possible evolutionary tradeoff between longer lifespan and greater risk of cancer. Now, researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center find direct evidence for that tradeoff in new data showing that expression of a key tumor suppressor protein induces premature aging in mice.

6 Apr 2011

NEB, Sequenom sign deal to commercialize research tools for epigenetics

New England Biolabs, Inc. and Sequenom, Inc. jointly announce that they have signed a licensing and co-marketing agreement to commercialize research tools for epigenetics.

From New England Biolabs 6 Apr 2011

Vitamin D can reduce estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer

In mice models of breast cancer, researchers at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, a part of Georgetown University Medical Center, found that vitamin D significantly reduced development of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer both in lean and obese mice, but had no beneficial effect in estrogen receptor-negative cancer.

5 Apr 2011

Epithelial cells in breast milk can help assess breast cancer risk

Breast cancer risk can be assessed by examining the epithelial cells found in breast milk, according to preliminary study results presented at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011, held April 2-6.

4 Apr 2011

Syndax to present entinostat data against cancer at AACR meeting

Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage epigenetics oncology company, today announced 11 posters on entinostat, an oral, highly selective, class I histone deacetylase inhibitor, will be presented at the 102nd Annual American Association for Cancer Research meeting April 2 to April 6 in Orlando, FL.

1 Apr 2011

Almac, BioFocus partner to provide FLT assays

BioFocus and Almac have initiated a collaboration which will provide BioFocus customers with compound screening and profiling services using Almac's FLEXYTETM fluorescence lifetime assays.

28 Mar 2011

MMRF hails new publication of multiple myeloma genome analysis in Nature journal

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation today hailed a new publication in Nature as a major step forward in the organization's efforts to advance a personalized medicine approach in multiple myeloma.

24 Mar 2011

Mother's gene variation can influence alcohol-related disorders in fetus

Exposure to alcohol in the womb doesn't affect all fetuses equally. Why does one woman who drinks alcohol during pregnancy give birth to a child with physical, behavioral or learning problems -- known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder -- while another woman who also drinks has a child without these problems?

24 Mar 2011

Eisai, Epizyme partner to develop and commercialize EZH2 epigenetic enzyme

Epizyme, Inc. announced today a worldwide partnership with Eisai Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan to discover, develop and commercialize therapeutics targeting EZH2, an epigenetic enzyme, for the treatment of lymphoma and other cancers in genetically-defined patients.

11 Mar 2011