CRISPR‐based reagents to study the influence of the epigenome on gene expression. (11th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lavender, P.; Kelly, A.; Hendy, E.; McErlean, P.
• Is Part Of: Clinical and experimental immunology. Volume 194:Number 1(2018:Oct.)
• Page Start: 9
• Page End: 16
• Publication Date: 2018-09-11
• Subjects: gene regulation -- molecular biology -- transcription factors; Immunopathology -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1111/cei.13190
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-9104

Abstract

Summary: The use of epigenome editing is set to expand our knowledge of how epigenetic landscapes facilitate gene expression capacity within a given cell. As epigenetic landscape profiling in health and disease becomes more commonplace, so does the requirement to assess the functional impact that particular regulatory domains and DNA methylation profiles have upon gene expression capacity. That functional assessment is particularly pertinent when analysing epigenomes in disease states where the reversible nature of histone and DNA modification might yield plausible therapeutic targets. In this review we discuss first the nature of the epigenetic landscape, secondly the types of factors that deposit and erase the various modifications, consider how modifications transduce their signals, and lastly address current tools for experimental epigenome editing with particular emphasis on the immune system. Abstract : This review introduces the concept that the epigenome, which dictates gene expression potential within any cell, can itself be edited. CRISPR‐based reagents exist to deposit and remove both DNA and histone modifications. These tools are beginning to be used to interrogate the establishment of both differentiation‐ and disease‐specific gene expression patterns.