About this Research Topic
Mammalian zygotes are described as totipotent since this unique single cell can form all cell types of adult organisms and extra-embryonic tissues. To obtain this capacity, chromatin states of two highly differentiated gametes undergo a dramatic remodeling after fertilization. This capacity of differentiation will be gradually lost during embryonic development without an alteration of the genomic DNA sequence. A similar cell transition also happened in other biological processes such as somatic cell reprogramming and oncogenesis. It is believed that epigenetic mechanisms are crucial in cellular identity. The cues involved changing of DNA methylation and histone post-translational modification, chromatin remodeling, nuclear architecture reconstruction and substation transcription regulation are key drivers for cell state transitions by altering gene activity and cellular phenotypes.
In the past few years, extensive studies and technologies have been implemented and invented to unravel genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying cellular identity and cell fate transitions. Although our understanding of the epigenetic and chromatin landscape during different cell state transitions increased strikingly, however, the precise mechanisms of how chromatin modification coordinate with epigenetic regulators and transcription factors remains an important area for future research. The major goal of this topic is to accumulate more latest information about chromatin dynamics during cell fate transitions and how chromatin landscape identifies cell fate. To achieve this aim, a detailed understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in cellular identity and cell fate transitions in different research and clinical models is required.
In this research topic, we aim at comprehensive coverage of genetic and epigenetic regulations that contribute to the cellular identity and cell fate transition. Any kind of articles including research articles, reports, reviews, perspectives and methods potentially covering this intriguing field are welcome.
Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include but are not restricted to:
1. Chromatin states including DNA methylation, histone post-translational modification, histone turnover, X chromosome inactivation, Heterochromatin and euchromatin
2. Non-coding RNAs including small non-coding RNAs, long non-coding RNAs and endogenous retroviruses or repetitive elements
3. DNA replication, DNA repairmen, nucleosomes structure and chromatin assembly
4. Transcription factor, chromatin accessibility, genome-wide transcripts and RNA modification
5. Advance techniques including Single-cell and low-cell number epigenomic studies, gene editing, super-resolution microscopy techniques
6. Ethical and biosafety issue
In the past few years, extensive studies and technologies have been implemented and invented to unravel genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying cellular identity and cell fate transitions. Although our understanding of the epigenetic and chromatin landscape during different cell state transitions increased strikingly, however, the precise mechanisms of how chromatin modification coordinate with epigenetic regulators and transcription factors remains an important area for future research. The major goal of this topic is to accumulate more latest information about chromatin dynamics during cell fate transitions and how chromatin landscape identifies cell fate. To achieve this aim, a detailed understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in cellular identity and cell fate transitions in different research and clinical models is required.
In this research topic, we aim at comprehensive coverage of genetic and epigenetic regulations that contribute to the cellular identity and cell fate transition. Any kind of articles including research articles, reports, reviews, perspectives and methods potentially covering this intriguing field are welcome.
Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include but are not restricted to:
1. Chromatin states including DNA methylation, histone post-translational modification, histone turnover, X chromosome inactivation, Heterochromatin and euchromatin
2. Non-coding RNAs including small non-coding RNAs, long non-coding RNAs and endogenous retroviruses or repetitive elements
3. DNA replication, DNA repairmen, nucleosomes structure and chromatin assembly
4. Transcription factor, chromatin accessibility, genome-wide transcripts and RNA modification
5. Advance techniques including Single-cell and low-cell number epigenomic studies, gene editing, super-resolution microscopy techniques
6. Ethical and biosafety issue
Keywords: Development, totipotency, pluripotency, epigenomics, transcription regulation, nucleosome, heterochromatin, reprogramming, human disease
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
