When Biochemistry meets Epigenetics

Course contents:

• An introduction to Epigenetics
• Biochemical mechanisms of Epigenetics DNA methylation, recognition of methylated CpG, demethylation in mammals, histone modifications, non-coding RNAs, microRNAs, the effect of chromosome organization, mechanisms of polycomb proteins
• Biochemical approaches to study Epigenetics Analysis of tissue-specific DNA methylation, methods for assessing genome-wide DNA methylation, methylation of Lysine-9 of Histone H3: role in heterochromatin modulation and tumorigenesis, chromatin modifications distinguish genomic features and physical organization of the nucleus, assessing epigenetic information
• Model Organisms of Epigenetics Eukaryotic microbes, Drosophila, mouse models of epigenetic inheritance, epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in plants
• Metabolism and Epigenetics
• Functions of Epigenetics Stem Cells and cellular differentiation, Epigenetic basis of skeletal muscle regeneration, X Chromosome Inactivation, genomic imprinting, Epigenetics of memory processes, transgenerational Epigenetics, aging Epigenetics
• Evolutionary Epigenetics Epigenetics in adaptive evolution and development
• Epigenetic Epidemiology The Effects of diet on Epigenetic processes, environmental agents and Epigenetics, impact of microbial infections on the human Epigenome and carcinogenesis, population pharmacoepigenomics
• Epigenetics and Human Disease Cancer Epigenetics, the role of Epigenetics in Immune disorders, Epigenetics of brain disorders, complex metabolic syndromes and Epigenetics, clinical applications of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors