New technology links gene expression to epigenetic markers in brain tissue
In short: Researchers have developed two new methods to simultaneously map the epigenome and transcriptome in the same tissue section. By analyzing mouse and human brain samples, the study found that while epigenetic and transcriptional patterns often align, they also reveal distinct features that help define different cell states.
The study used co-sequencing of chromatin accessibility or histone modifications alongside gene expression at near-single-cell resolution. This approach allows scientists to see how epigenetic changes precede or accompany gene activity. However, the study focuses on mapping patterns in specific brain tissues rather than testing a specific therapeutic intervention.
This advancement provides a way to observe the mechanistic relationship between the central dogma's layers in their original spatial context, which was previously difficult with single-layer technologies.
Why it matters: We can now see how the layers of genetic instruction overlap and differ within the physical structure of the brain.
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Sources
- Source: Research: Zhang et al. (2023). Spatial epigenome-transcriptome co-profiling of mammalian tissues. Nature. · cc by
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