| Title |
Understanding the Connection between Epigenetic DNA Methylation and Nucleosome Positioning from Computer Simulations
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
PLoS Computational Biology, November 2013
|
| DOI | 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003354 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Guillem Portella, Federica Battistini, Modesto Orozco |
| Abstract |
Cytosine methylation is one of the most important epigenetic marks that regulate the process of gene expression. Here, we have examined the effect of epigenetic DNA methylation on nucleosomal stability using molecular dynamics simulations and elastic deformation models. We found that methylation of CpG steps destabilizes nucleosomes, especially when these are placed in sites where the DNA minor groove faces the histone core. The larger stiffness of methylated CpG steps is a crucial factor behind the decrease in nucleosome stability. Methylation changes the positioning and phasing of the nucleosomal DNA, altering the accessibility of DNA to regulatory proteins, and accordingly gene functionality. Our theoretical calculations highlight a simple physical-based explanation on the foundations of epigenetic signaling. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 8 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 | 25% |
| India | 1 | 13% |
| Norway | 1 | 13% |
| Netherlands | 1 | 13% |
| China | 1 | 13% |
| Unknown | 2 | 25% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 6 | 75% |
| Scientists | 2 | 25% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 120 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 1 | <1% |
| India | 1 | <1% |
| United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
| Russia | 1 | <1% |
| Spain | 1 | <1% |
| United States | 1 | <1% |
| Unknown | 114 | 95% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 40 | 33% |
| Researcher | 29 | 24% |
| Student > Master | 12 | 10% |
| Student > Bachelor | 10 | 8% |
| Student > Doctoral Student | 6 | 5% |
| Other | 16 | 13% |
| Unknown | 7 | 6% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 61 | 51% |
| Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 21 | 18% |
| Chemistry | 8 | 7% |
| Engineering | 5 | 4% |
| Computer Science | 4 | 3% |
| Other | 11 | 9% |
| Unknown | 10 | 8% |