New data from National Institute on Aging illuminate research in antisense technology
2008 JAN 18 -- "The first steps of murine immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IgH) gene recombination take place within a chromosomal domain that contains diversity (D-H) and joining (J(H)) gene segments, but not variable (V-H) gene segments. Here we show that the chromatin state of this domain is markedly heterogeneous," scientists in the United States report. "Specifically, only 5'- and 3'-most D-H gene segments carry active chromatin modifications, whereas intervening D(H)s are associated with heterochromatic marks that are maintained by ongoing histone deacetylation. The intervening D(H)s form part of a tandemly repeated sequence that expresses tissue-specific, antisense oriented transcripts," wrote T. Chakraborty and colleagues, National Institute on Aging. The researchers concluded: "We propose that the intervening DH genes are actively suppressed by repeat-induced epigenetic silencing, which is reflected in their infrequent representation in DJ(H) junctions compared to the flanking D-H genes." Chakraborty and colleagues published their study in Molecular Cell (Repeat organization and epigenetic regulation of the D-H-C-mu domain of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene locusi. Molecular Cell, 2007;27(5):842-850). For additional information, contact R. Sen, NIA, Cellular & Molecular Biology Laboratory, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. The publisher's contact information for the journal Molecular Cell is: Cell Press, 600 Technology Square, 5TH Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. Keywords: United States, Baltimore, Aging, Antisense Technology, Biotechnology, Gene Therapy, Genetics, Treatment, National Institute on Aging. This article was prepared by Genomics & Genetics Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Genomics & Genetics Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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