Scientists have discovered a novel mechanism of gene regulation involving the coordinated modification of both DNA and RNA. This finding challenges the long-held belief that these processes operate independently. The study, focusing on mouse embryonic stem cells, revealed that a protein complex involved in RNA methylation can also interact with the protein responsible for DNA methylation. This new complex can then simultaneously modify both DNA and RNA at the same gene location, enabling cells to fine-tune gene expression during development. This discovery has potential implications for understanding human biology and diseases like cancer, as disruptions in this coordinated epigenetic regulation could lead to abnormal protein levels and contribute to tumorigenesis.
The ultimate action-packed science and technology magazine bursting with exciting information about the universeEngaging articles, amazing illustrations & exclusive interviewsis a form of DNA modification that doesn't affect the DNA sequence itself.
Instead, it describes when chemical groups attach to specific genes, thus switching those genes on or off, or else changing the 3D shape of chromosomes., scientists have uncovered a whole new method of gene regulation that involves epigenetic tweaks made to both DNA and its molecular cousinKathrin Plath , director of epigenomics, RNA and gene regulation at UCLA who was not involved in the study, told Live Science in an email.to DNA or histones — proteins that DNA wraps around to become more compact and fit into the nucleus. A protein calledadds these molecules to DNA, and its activity can turn gene expression up or down depending on where a given gene is methylated.Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.— a molecule that shuttles instructions from DNA out into the cell to make proteins — can also be modified. This is mainly done by a protein complex calledEvery cell in the body uses both RNA and DNA methylation to regulate gene expression. However, it was previously assumed that these processes operated independently. The new study puts that assumption into question. In the study, the scientists looked at mouse embryonic stem cells and mapped the locations of DNA and RNA methylation as the cells developed. They found that thousands of genes and their complementary RNA molecules contained both methylation markers. Through additional experiments, the team found that the METTL3-METTL14 complex that interacts with RNA also recruits and physically binds to DNMT1, the protein that tags DNA. This new, bigger complex can then methylate the same gene at the DNA or RNA level. This enables the cell to further fine-tune its gene regulation during cell differentiation — a process by which a stem cell assumes a specific identity, becoming a heart or lung cell, for example. "So why would a cell not also connect an epigenetic modification of DNA and an epigenetic modification of RNA?" said study co-author, director of the ULB Cancer Research Center in Belgium." the direct connection between DNA methylation and RNA modification that has not been seen before," he told Live Science. According to Fuks, this study does have some limitations, namely, that it mostly focuses on embryonic stem cell differentiation. DNA and RNA modifications had separately been well characterized in stem cells in past studies, so it made sense for the researchers to start with them. But these same types of DNA and RNA modifications are present in all types of cells.This discovery challenges the established view that these RNA- and DNA-modifying processes are completely separate, and it suggests that it may have broader implications in human biology and disease. To that end, Fuks and his team are trying to determine how this new mechanism relates to cancer. IVF may raise risk of certain disorders in babies — and epigenetic 'signatures' in the placenta could explain why If the coordination of DNA and RNA epigenetics gets thrown off, you may end up with too much or too little of a protein, Fuk suggested."Now, a key protein will be expressed at a too high level," he said."This could be detrimental for a cell and contribute to tumorigenesis," or the formation of tumors.testing RNA methylation inhibition as a cancer treatment. Fuks and his team are testing the potential of combining these existing therapies to improve patients' outcomes. Preliminary data from their laboratory studies hint this strategy could be useful for patients with leukemia. At least in petri dishes,"we can revert the cancer progression of leukemic cells by adding these two drugs together," Fuk said."Eventually, down the line, why couldn't we combine these two drugs to treat patients?" Jennifer Zieba earned her PhD in human genetics at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is currently a project scientist in the orthopedic surgery department at UCLA where she works on identifying mutations and possible treatments for rare genetic musculoskeletal disorders. Jen enjoys teaching and communicating complex scientific concepts to a wide audience and is a freelance writer for multiple online publications.Massive study of 3 million people reveals genetic 'hotspots' linked to bipolar disorder Parts of San Francisco and Los Angeles are sinking into the sea — meaning sea-level rise will be even worse
EPIGENETICS GENOME REGULATION CANCER RNA METHYLATION DNA METHYLATION
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