Modifications of Molecular Structure and Interactions in Epigenome

Dear Colleagues,

Beyond the regulatory mechanisms of classical genetics, epigenetics offers new answers to fundamental questions of life. including fertility, embryo development, and aging. The molecular machinery of epigenetic regulation has been correlated with various aspects of environmental pollution, psychological stress, physical activity, and nutrition. Public health issues, such as tobacco smoking or alcoholism, have also been investigated in the context of epigenetics. In the past few decades, the identification of epigenetic drug targets has become an emerging field. Beyond the classical genetics background of cancer, epigenetic abnormalities have been detected during the initiation and propagation of the disease. The pathophysiology of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases has also been associated with epigenetic alterations of immune and other cells.

Epigenetic regulation involves heritable changes in gene expression that occur independent of changes in the primary DNA sequence. Such changes in gene expression are coupled to the chromatin structure. Modifications of its components, like DNA methylation, covalent histone modifications, nucleosome positioning, histone variants, and miRNAs, adds up to combinatorial patterns collectively termed as epigenome. The regulatory machinery also involves numerous enzymes and other proteins interacting with chromatin components. The understanding and precise description of such molecular interactions is key to the mapping of the epigenome, and to the design of new molecules interfering with epigenetic diseases. The present Special Issue welcomes manuscripts on molecular interactions of epigenetic regulation, including new methodological approaches and applications of established techniques.

Dr. Csaba Hetényi
Dr. Uko Maran
Guest Editors

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