User login
in the bone marrow
A new epigenetic profiling technique has allowed researchers to chart histone dynamics during hematopoiesis, and it has produced some surprising results.
The researchers developed a high-sensitivity, indexing-first chromatin immunoprecipitation approach (iChIP) that requires as few as 500 cells for accurate analysis.
The techniques currently in use require millions of cells for accurate detection and analysis, but iCHIP overcomes this limitation.
David Lara-Astiaso, of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, and his colleagues described the new method in Science.
The team used iCHIP to profile the dynamics of 4 chromatin modifications across 16 stages of hematopoietic differentiation.
“Using this powerful approach, we were able to identify the exact DNA regulatory sequences, as well as the various regulatory proteins, that are involved in controlling stem cell fate, casting light on previously unseen parts of the basic program of life,” said Nir Friedman, PhD, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel.
The research also suggested that as many as 50% of these regulatory sequences are established and opened during intermediate stages of cell development. This means epigenetics are active at stages in which we thought cell destiny was already set.
“This changes our whole understanding of the process of blood stem cell fate decisions,” Lara-Astiaso said.
“[The discovery suggests] the process is more dynamic and flexible than previously thought, giving the cell slightly more leeway at the later stages in deciding what type of cell to turn into, in case its circumstances change.”
Although this research was conducted on mouse HSCs, the researchers believe the mechanism may hold true for other types of cells as well.
“This research creates a lot of excitement in the field, as it sets the groundwork to study these regulatory elements in humans,” said Assaf Weiner, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Discovering the exact regulatory DNA sequence controlling the fate of hematopoietic stem cells, as well as understanding the mechanism, holds promise for the development of diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions, the researchers noted. 
in the bone marrow
A new epigenetic profiling technique has allowed researchers to chart histone dynamics during hematopoiesis, and it has produced some surprising results.
The researchers developed a high-sensitivity, indexing-first chromatin immunoprecipitation approach (iChIP) that requires as few as 500 cells for accurate analysis.
The techniques currently in use require millions of cells for accurate detection and analysis, but iCHIP overcomes this limitation.
David Lara-Astiaso, of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, and his colleagues described the new method in Science.
The team used iCHIP to profile the dynamics of 4 chromatin modifications across 16 stages of hematopoietic differentiation.
“Using this powerful approach, we were able to identify the exact DNA regulatory sequences, as well as the various regulatory proteins, that are involved in controlling stem cell fate, casting light on previously unseen parts of the basic program of life,” said Nir Friedman, PhD, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel.
The research also suggested that as many as 50% of these regulatory sequences are established and opened during intermediate stages of cell development. This means epigenetics are active at stages in which we thought cell destiny was already set.
“This changes our whole understanding of the process of blood stem cell fate decisions,” Lara-Astiaso said.
“[The discovery suggests] the process is more dynamic and flexible than previously thought, giving the cell slightly more leeway at the later stages in deciding what type of cell to turn into, in case its circumstances change.”
Although this research was conducted on mouse HSCs, the researchers believe the mechanism may hold true for other types of cells as well.
“This research creates a lot of excitement in the field, as it sets the groundwork to study these regulatory elements in humans,” said Assaf Weiner, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Discovering the exact regulatory DNA sequence controlling the fate of hematopoietic stem cells, as well as understanding the mechanism, holds promise for the development of diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions, the researchers noted.
in the bone marrow
A new epigenetic profiling technique has allowed researchers to chart histone dynamics during hematopoiesis, and it has produced some surprising results.
The researchers developed a high-sensitivity, indexing-first chromatin immunoprecipitation approach (iChIP) that requires as few as 500 cells for accurate analysis.
The techniques currently in use require millions of cells for accurate detection and analysis, but iCHIP overcomes this limitation.
David Lara-Astiaso, of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, and his colleagues described the new method in Science.
The team used iCHIP to profile the dynamics of 4 chromatin modifications across 16 stages of hematopoietic differentiation.
“Using this powerful approach, we were able to identify the exact DNA regulatory sequences, as well as the various regulatory proteins, that are involved in controlling stem cell fate, casting light on previously unseen parts of the basic program of life,” said Nir Friedman, PhD, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel.
The research also suggested that as many as 50% of these regulatory sequences are established and opened during intermediate stages of cell development. This means epigenetics are active at stages in which we thought cell destiny was already set.
“This changes our whole understanding of the process of blood stem cell fate decisions,” Lara-Astiaso said.
“[The discovery suggests] the process is more dynamic and flexible than previously thought, giving the cell slightly more leeway at the later stages in deciding what type of cell to turn into, in case its circumstances change.”
Although this research was conducted on mouse HSCs, the researchers believe the mechanism may hold true for other types of cells as well.
“This research creates a lot of excitement in the field, as it sets the groundwork to study these regulatory elements in humans,” said Assaf Weiner, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Discovering the exact regulatory DNA sequence controlling the fate of hematopoietic stem cells, as well as understanding the mechanism, holds promise for the development of diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions, the researchers noted.