Epigenetic Mechanisms in Genome Regulation and Developmental Programming (James Hackett)

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with James Hackett from the EMBL in Rome about his work on epigenetic mechanisms in genome regulation and developmental programming.

One of James Hackett's significant studies focused on DNA methylation and genome defense mechanisms in the germline, exploring the role of chromatin modifications in mammalian gene regulation. He delves into investigating the erasure of DNA methylation in the germline, highlighting the key role of the TET-enzymes in demethylation processes.

Dr. Hackett shares insights from his research on pluripotent stem cells, where he mapped genome-wide DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in different pluripotent states. He discusses the impact of extrinsic conditions on pluripotent states and the biases observed in lineage preferences.

Furthermore, the discussion delves into the development of a CRISPR screening tool to study cell fate transitions, particularly focusing on the genetic factors contributing to germline specification. He also talks about his work on epigenetic inheritance, highlighting the importance of precise perturbations in understanding chromatin modifications and their functional implications.

In a recent study, the Hackett lab focuses on systematic epigenome editing to investigate the context-dependent functions of chromatin modifications. We hear about this work, and the complexity of interactions between chromatin marks, DNA sequences, and transcription factors, shedding light on the nuanced effects of various chromatin modifications on gene expression.

References

• Hackett JA, Reddington JP, Nestor CE, et al. Promoter DNA methylation couples genome-defence mechanisms to epigenetic reprogramming in the mouse germline. Development (Cambridge, England). 2012 Oct;139(19):3623-3632. DOI: 10.1242/dev.081661. PMID: 22949617; PMCID: PMC3436114.

• Hackett JA, Sengupta R, Zylicz JJ, et al. Germline DNA demethylation dynamics and imprint erasure through 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. Science (New York, N.Y.). 2013 Jan;339(6118):448-452. DOI: 10.1126/science.1229277. PMID: 23223451; PMCID: PMC3847602.

• Hackett JA, Kobayashi T, Dietmann S, Surani MA. Activation of Lineage Regulators and Transposable Elements across a Pluripotent Spectrum. Stem Cell Reports. 2017 Jun;8(6):1645-1658. DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.05.014. PMID: 28591649; PMCID: PMC5470235.

• Hackett JA, Huang Y, Günesdogan U, et al. Tracing the transitions from pluripotency to germ cell fate with CRISPR screening. Nature Communications. 2018 Oct;9(1):4292. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06230-0. PMID: 30327475; PMCID: PMC6191455.

Related Episodes

• Epigenetic and Metabolic Regulation of Early Development (Jan Żylicz)

• H3K79 Methylation, DOT1L, and FOXG1 in Neural Development (Tanja Vogel)

• The Impact of Chromatin Modifiers on Disease Development and Progression (Capucine van Rechem)

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