Dossier
DNA methylation
Coverage of DNA methylation in the Nexus archive.
- How air pollution may affect fertility
A study in the Human Reproduction journal found that exposure to outdoor air pollutants like ozone and nitrogen dioxide during sperm development may alter DNA methylation in sperm, potentially affecting fertility and offspring health. Researchers identified 39 methylation changes linked to pollutants, including the gene GNAS associated with embryonic development.
- Molecular basis for methylation-sensitive editing by Cas9
ThermoCas9, a methylation-sensitive genome-editing enzyme, was characterized in a study published in Nature. The enzyme shows potential for targeting hypomethylated DNA regions in cancer cells, offering new possibilities for precision oncology applications.