How chemical tags on DNA and histone proteins control gene activity
Epigenetic regulations of DNA and histone methylation and deMethylation: Structures and Mechanisms
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · NIH-11270839
This work looks at how chemical tags on DNA and histone proteins change which genes are turned on or off in adult human cells.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (HOUSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11270839 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you or someone you know is affected by conditions linked to gene regulation, this team is mapping chemical marks on DNA (like methylated and oxidized cytosine) and on histone proteins to see how those marks influence where gene‑controlling proteins bind. They use biochemical experiments, structural analysis, and experiments in human cells to study the enzymes that add, read, and remove these marks. By comparing unmodified, methylated, and oxidized DNA sites, they aim to understand how specific chromatin regions are targeted for modification and how that affects genome stability and gene expression.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who are willing to provide blood or tissue samples for laboratory studies of DNA methylation and chromatin regulation would be the appropriate participants for related sample collection efforts.
Not a fit: People looking for immediate treatment or enrollment in a clinical therapy trial are unlikely to benefit because this project focuses on basic molecular mechanisms rather than testing patient treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of these mechanisms could point to new drug targets or therapies that correct abnormal gene regulation in diseases such as cancer and other disorders linked to epigenetic changes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous biochemical and structural studies have successfully revealed important epigenetic mechanisms and enabled drug discovery, but the detailed effects of oxidized cytosine forms on transcription factor binding remain a relatively new area.
Where this research is happening
HOUSTON, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR — HOUSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CHENG, XIAODONG — UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- Study coordinator: CHENG, XIAODONG
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.