In addition to four canonical nucleobases, DNA molecules also contain a number of modified nucleobases that can control and regulate gene expression and chromatin remodeling. Elucidating the functions of DNA modifications relies on the sensitive detection, accurate quantification, and genome-wide mapping of these modifications in genomic DNA. Recently, the rapid advances of high-throughput sequencing techniques have enabled the discovery and functional studies of a variety of new DNA modifications such as 5-methylcytosine (5mC), 5-carboxycytosine (5CaC), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), N6-methyladenine (6mA) and N7-methylguanine (7mG). DNA base modifications widely exist in different organisms and are essential in various biological processes, such as genomic imprinting, X-chromosome inactivation, genome stability, gene regulation, chromosome structure, aging, and tumorigenesis. Furthermore, the decreasing cost of high-throughput sequencing and computational resource have brought DNA modifications from basic research to biomedical and clinical application, which is more closely aligned with the goal of precision medicine. Therefore, novel methods, reliable biomarkers and data-driven models based on DNA modifications are urgently needed for biomedical applications in various diseases and different physiological conditions.
This collection aims to explore and highlight the application researches to study DNA modifications of clinical samples in order to identify novel biomarkers or investigate the underlying mechanisms participated in complex diseases such as human cancers and developmental disorders.
We welcome submissions of original research articles, reviews, mini reviews, and reports of biomedical or clinical research that cover, but are not limited to, the following subtopics:
1.Development of sequencing methods to detect DNA modifications and depict their molecular functions.
2.Establishment of bioinformatics tools for diagnosis and prognosis of human diseases based on DNA modifications.
3.Identification of novel biomarkers of DNA modifications for early detection of human cancers and developmental disorders.
4.Manipulation of DNA modifications by CRISPR-based epigenome editing or genetic engineering techniques.
5.Data resource and data integration of large volumes of sequencing data for DNA modifications.
6.Evaluation of existing sequencing or computational methods used in the study of DNA modifications.
In addition to four canonical nucleobases, DNA molecules also contain a number of modified nucleobases that can control and regulate gene expression and chromatin remodeling. Elucidating the functions of DNA modifications relies on the sensitive detection, accurate quantification, and genome-wide mapping of these modifications in genomic DNA. Recently, the rapid advances of high-throughput sequencing techniques have enabled the discovery and functional studies of a variety of new DNA modifications such as 5-methylcytosine (5mC), 5-carboxycytosine (5CaC), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), N6-methyladenine (6mA) and N7-methylguanine (7mG). DNA base modifications widely exist in different organisms and are essential in various biological processes, such as genomic imprinting, X-chromosome inactivation, genome stability, gene regulation, chromosome structure, aging, and tumorigenesis. Furthermore, the decreasing cost of high-throughput sequencing and computational resource have brought DNA modifications from basic research to biomedical and clinical application, which is more closely aligned with the goal of precision medicine. Therefore, novel methods, reliable biomarkers and data-driven models based on DNA modifications are urgently needed for biomedical applications in various diseases and different physiological conditions.
This collection aims to explore and highlight the application researches to study DNA modifications of clinical samples in order to identify novel biomarkers or investigate the underlying mechanisms participated in complex diseases such as human cancers and developmental disorders.
We welcome submissions of original research articles, reviews, mini reviews, and reports of biomedical or clinical research that cover, but are not limited to, the following subtopics:
1.Development of sequencing methods to detect DNA modifications and depict their molecular functions.
2.Establishment of bioinformatics tools for diagnosis and prognosis of human diseases based on DNA modifications.
3.Identification of novel biomarkers of DNA modifications for early detection of human cancers and developmental disorders.
4.Manipulation of DNA modifications by CRISPR-based epigenome editing or genetic engineering techniques.
5.Data resource and data integration of large volumes of sequencing data for DNA modifications.
6.Evaluation of existing sequencing or computational methods used in the study of DNA modifications.