Decoding the Epigenetic Language: Combinatorial Chromatin Modifications in Gene Regulation

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Epigenomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 15

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Interests: gene regulation; epigenetics; biophysics and structural biology

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Interests: gene regulation; epigenetics; biophysics and structural biology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Epigenetic regulation, through dynamic and reversible chromatin modifications, plays a fundamental role in controlling gene expression across diverse biological contexts. Recent advances have highlighted the combinatorial nature of these chromatin marks—so-called "epigenetic language"—as crucial in decoding the regulatory complexity of the genome.

This Special Issue, “Decoding the Epigenetic Language: Combinatorial Chromatin Modifications in Gene Regulation”, will explore how combinations of DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNAs, and chromatin remodelers influence transcriptional regulation, genome stability, and disease etiology. We also aim to emphasize the interplay between these marks, and a particular emphasis will be placed on their roles in cancer epigenetics, developmental processes, and host–pathogen interactions, as well as their implications in precision medicine.

Over the last two decades, the field has evolved from identifying individual epigenetic marks to understanding their integration and crosstalk in chromatin landscapes. This evolution has been driven by powerful tools such as ChIP-seq, CUT&RUN, ATAC-seq, and integrative multi-omics, along with advances in structural biology and AI-driven analysis.

We welcome submissions of cutting-edge research that delves into the mechanisms behind combinatorial chromatin regulation, its functional implications in health and disease, and advances in methodology that can drive the field forward. Original research articles and comprehensive reviews that uncover mechanistic insights, utilize innovative model systems, or develop computational and AI-based tools to decode chromatin modification patterns will be considered. Studies addressing epigenetic dysregulation in disease models, the therapeutic targeting of chromatin regulators, or novel methodological frameworks are particularly welcome.

Through this Special Issue, we hope to develop a deeper understanding of chromatin-based regulation and foster interdisciplinary dialog in this rapidly evolving field.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions to this timely and important Special Issue.

Dr. Kaur Gundeep
Dr. John R. Horton
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • epigenetics
  • gene regulation
  • chromatin modifications
  • chromatin architecture
  • computational epigenomics
  • CRISPR epigenome editing
  • epigenetic therapies

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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