Epigenome Editing

This detailed book explores the concepts and applications of epigenome editing, as presented by leading scientists in the field. Beginning with some general and topical reviews, the collection continues by covering the design of DNA-binding devices, optimization of the effector domains, readout of epigenome marks, and approaches for delivery at the cellular and organismal level. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Epigenome Editing: Methods and Protocols will be of great assistance to people new to the field but also to those already engaged, as epigenetic editing is still a relatively unexplored field with many issues to be resolved.

This detailed book explores the concepts and applications of epigenome editing, as presented by leading scientists in the field. Beginning with some general and topical reviews, the collection continues by covering the design of DNA-binding devices, optimization of the effector domains, readout of epigenome marks, and approaches for delivery at the cellular and organismal level. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Epigenome Editing: Methods and Protocols will be of great assistance to people new to the field but also to those already engaged, as epigenetic editing is still a relatively unexplored field with many issues to be resolved.

This detailed volume provides a comprehensive collection of protocols for epigenomic research, powering our ability to analyze epigenetic modifications across the entire genome. Beginning with methods used to investigate epigenomic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin structure, the book continues with methods for manipulating the epigenome, including platforms for epigenome editing, inducible systems for epigenome editing, and epigenetically modified animals. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters feature introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step and readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Epigenomics: Methods and Protocols serves as an ideal resource for researchers looking to further expand the utility and scope of epigenomics research.

In recent years, alongside the largely popularized advances in human genome editing and CRISPR-cas9-driven therapeutics, epigenomic editing has made strong strides, though a clear understanding is still forming in the field of the exact role that epigenetics play in pathogenesis, the full range of sites for possible epigenetic modification, and the potential to target these sites to modulate disease progression. Key questions for researchers embarking in this field include: Which of the hundreds of epigenomic marks and features are relevant, and which of those are likely to serve a role in regulating gene expression, cell behavior, and phenotypic outcomes? This volume is the first to provide a thorough, conceptual introduction to the field of epigenetic regulation and a thorough accounting of sites for possible epigenetic edits and disease modulation. Protocols, and applied case studies examine early disease targets and likely pathways of therapeutic significance, while also outlining common challenges in the field, and the addressing the range of bioethical questions that come with altering phenotypes. This book addresses its topic in a comprehensive, but accessible manner, highlighting practical tools and burning questions remaining in the field to enable fresh research. Offers a full, conceptual and applied framework for implementing epigenomic editing in biological research and drug discovery Discusses fundamental theory, experimental design, and applied approaches alongside common research challenges and bioethical concerns Examines epigenomic editing's potential role in modulation of developmental, neuropsychiatric, and immunological disorders, as well as viral infections and cancer

Epigenomics deals in detail with the concepts, principles, procedures, developments, limitations, advantages, applications and future prospects of different areas of epigenomics in a comprehensive manner. It provides concise yet complete knowledge on the many aspects of the basic and most recent methods and applications in epigenomics, a branch of epigenetics that deals with the mechanisms such as DNA modifications, histone modifications, RNA modifications, small and long non-coding RNAs, chromatin remodeling, which are involved in epigenetic control of gene expression without involving variations in DNA sequences. These regulatory mechanisms lead to phenotypic variations. These epigenetic mechanisms can be exploited for crop improvement and cure of human diseases. Epigenomics strives to understand the role of epigenetic marks (chemical tags) in the development of phenotype. This understanding provides epigeneticists to apply epigenomics in medicine and agriculture. Self-explanatory adequately labelled figures have been the special emphasis throughout. This book is primarily designed for senior undergraduate and graduate level (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) students studying epigenetics in conventional, agricultural and medicinal universities. This book will be a useful reference text for teachers and researcher in any discipline of life sciences, agricultural sciences, medicine, and biotechnology.

In recent years, the field of epigenetics has grown significantly, driving new understanding of human developmental processes and disease expression, as well as advances in diagnostics and therapeutics. As the field of epigenetics continues to grow, methods and technologies have multiplied, resulting in a wide range of approaches and tools researchers might employ. Epigenetics Methods offers comprehensive instruction in methods, protocols, and experimental approaches applied in field of epigenetics. Here, across thirty-five chapters, specialists offer step-by-step overviews of methods used to study various epigenetic mechanisms, as employed in basic and translational research. Leading the reader from fundamental to more advanced methods, the book begins with thorough instruction in DNA methylation techniques and gene or locus-specific methylation analyses, followed by histone modification methods, chromatin evaluation, enzyme analyses of histone methylation, and studies of non-coding RNAs as epigenetic modulators. Recently developed techniques and technologies discussed include single-cell epigenomics, epigenetic editing, computational epigenetics, systems biology epigenetic methods, and forensic epigenetic approaches. Epigenetics methods currently in-development, and their implication for future research, are also considered in-depth. In addition, as with the wider life sciences, reproducibility across experiments, labs, and subdisciplines is a growing issue for epigenetics researchers. This volume provides consensus-driven methods instruction and overviews. Tollefsbol and contributing authors survey the range of existing methods; identify best practices, common themes, and challenges; and bring unity of approach to a diverse and ever-evolving field. Includes contributions by leading international investigators involved in epigenetic research and clinical and therapeutic application Integrates technology and translation with fundamental chapters on epigenetics methods, as well as chapters on more novel and advanced epigenetics methods Written at verbal and technical levels that can be understood by scientists and students alike Includes chapters on state-of-the-art techniques such as single-cell epigenomics, use of CRISPR/Cas9 for epigenetic editing, and epigenetics methods applied to forensics

Over the past few decades, chromatin modulation has emerged as an important regulator of gene expression. This second edition provides detailed information on the epigenetic mechanisms in plants, illustrating the value of this research in plants of agronomic importance. It examines recent advances regarding plants’ epigenetic regulation in response to abiotic and biotic types of stress; the epigenetic basis of plant immunity; evolution and functions of plant histones; epigenetic variation and plant breeding; and epigenome editing and crop improvement. The content is intended to promote the development of future biotechnologies to manipulate and selectively activate/inhibit proteins and metabolic pathways to counter pathogens, to treat important diseases, and to increase crop productivity. The development of new fields, like epigenome editing and RNA epigenetics, will certainly improve our understanding of currently known epigenetic modifications and their roles in e.g. host-pathogen interactions, crop productivity, and in response to environmental stimuli. This volume contains twelve new/revised chapters, written by an international team of experts on plant epigenetics, and addresses the needs of researchers and professionals in the fields of agronomics, crop breeding, epigenetics, plant biochemistry, plant developmental biology, and related disciplines.

This book presents, in 26 chapters, the status quo in epigenomic profiling. It discusses how functional information can be indirectly inferred and describes the new approaches that promise functional answers, collectively referred to as epigenome editing. It highlights the latest important advances in our understanding of the functions of plant epigenomics and new technologies for the study of epigenomic marks and mechanisms in plants. Topics include the deposition or removal of chromatin modifications and histone variants, the role of epigenetics in development and response to environmental signals, natural variation and ecology, as well as applications for epigenetics in crop improvement. Discussing areas ranging from the complex regulation of stress and heterosis to the precise mechanisms of DNA and histone modifications, it presents breakthroughs in our understanding of complex phenotypic phenomena.