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    Centenary Institute > Research > Epigenetics

Epigenetics

Epigenetics DNA strand
Epigenetics are the differences in how your body reads a DNA sequence

The behaviour of our genes doesn’t just depend on the DNA sequence – it’s also affected by epigenetic factors. As our genes begin to express – or build – into cells, proteins, sugars and fats throughout our body some changes can occur.

By studying epigenetics, researcher try to understand how these behaviours and the environment can cause changes that affect the way our genes work. For example identical twins have identical genes, but their epigenomes are different.

Epigenetic changes are required for normal development however changes in these factors can play a critical role in disease. They have been shown to play a role in cancer. Researchers study epigenetics to learn how to impact disease mechanisms and its progress.

Our research has highlighted the importance of RNA processing in immune response. DNA contains a lot of seemingly ‘junk’ or ‘spacer’ sequences known scientifically as ‘introns’. It is during the conversion of the information in DNA into RNA that these ‘spacer DNA sequences’ or introns are removed. Surprisingly, by studying cells that are involved in the immune response, we discovered that the spacer DNA or introns do not always get removed in the RNA. Instead, they can be deliberately retained in the RNA to halt protein production.

This process is particularly important in the immune cells to allow the accumulation of many copies of partially processed RNAs in preparation for infection from pathogens such as virus and bacteria.

Dr Justin Wong, Head of Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program leads this research.

Our research program is also interested in chemical modifications to RNA. These modifications are akin to ‘punctuation marks’ that are important to ensure that messages in ‘genetic sentences’ are conveyed clearly. Together with our international collaborators from China and Belgium, we have shown that these modifications are important for the development of stem cells. Changes to these modifications on RNA are also implicated in the development of human cancers and patients’ response to therapy.

Dr Justin Wong, Head of Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program leads this research.

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Our research has highlighted the importance of RNA processing in immune response. DNA contains a lot of seemingly ‘junk’ or ‘spacer’ sequences known scientifically as ‘introns’. It is during the conversion of the information in DNA into RNA that these ‘spacer DNA sequences’ or introns are removed. Surprisingly, by studying cells that are involved in the immune response, we discovered that the spacer DNA or introns do not always get removed in the RNA. Instead, they can be deliberately retained in the RNA to halt protein production.

This process is particularly important in the immune cells to allow the accumulation of many copies of partially processed RNAs in preparation for infection from pathogens such as virus and bacteria.

Dr Justin Wong, Head of Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program leads this research.

Our research program is also interested in chemical modifications to RNA. These modifications are akin to ‘punctuation marks’ that are important to ensure that messages in ‘genetic sentences’ are conveyed clearly. Together with our international collaborators from China and Belgium, we have shown that these modifications are important for the development of stem cells. Changes to these modifications on RNA are also implicated in the development of human cancers and patients’ response to therapy.

Dr Justin Wong, Head of Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program leads this research.

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