An array of chemical alterations to histone proteins and DNA orchestrates chromatin structure and function. Through synergistic interactions between different histone modifications like methylation, acetylation, and phosphorylation, together with DNA modifications, diverse chromatin states are established, controlling gene accessibility and many other processes. Thrilling scientific questions are centered around combinatorial chromatin modification patterns: Do they carry information beyond the sum of the individual signals? How are they set by specific writers and detected by specific readers? Which specific chromatin states are controlled by complex combinatorial chromatin modification patterns? What is their biological and disease relevance? Which novel powerful methods can be established to investigate them?
Topics may include but are not limited to:
• Setting and molecular readout of combinatorial chromatin modifications
• Impact of combinatorial modifications on chromatin structure, gene expression, cellular differentiation and development
• Combinatorial chromatin modifications in health and disease states
• Technological advancements in profiling combinatorial chromatin modifications
• Computational modeling and bioinformatics approaches to decipher combinatorial chromatin codes
This Collection aims to provide a platform for researchers to decode the language of chromatin modification, offering insights into epigenetic regulation and potential therapeutic avenues.
