Amyloid-directed phosphatase activation, Paulina Strzyzp571 | doi:10.1038/s41580-019-0175-6A demonstration of a physiological role of amyloid aggregates in switching on enzymatic activity required for fly development. PDF Cryptic migration Paulina Strzyzp572 | doi:10.1038/s41580-019-0170-yDemonstration that active collective cell migration importantly contributes to the movement of intestinal epithelial cells along the villi. PDF Emil Heitz, a true epigenetics pioneer Frédéric Bergerp572 | doi:10.1038/s41580-019-0161-zEmil Heitz was a pioneer of epigenetics at a time when the nature of the heredity material was still unclear. PDF
REVIEWS
The roles of DNA, RNA and histone methylation in ageing and cancer    Ewa M. Michalak, Marian L. Burr, Andrew J. Bannister & Mark A. Dawsonpp573 - 589 | doi:10.1038/s41580-019-0143-1The dynamic methylation of chromatin components — DNA, histones and RNA — is crucial in development, ageing and cancer. Therapies that target regulators of DNA and histone methylation in cancer have recently been developed. These promising therapies, which include strategies that may improve tumour immune surveillance, are already being tested in early-phase clinical trials. Full Text | PDF
The diverse roles of DNA methylation in mammalian development and disease    Maxim V. C. Greenberg & Deborah Bourc’hispp590 - 607 | doi:10.1038/s41580-019-0159-6DNA methylation is essential for mammalian embryogenesis owing to its repression of transposons and genes, but it is also associated with gene activation. The recent use of sensitive technologies has revealed that DNA methylation dynamics vary considerably between embryonic, germline and somatic cell development, with implications for genetic diseases and cancer. Full Text | PDF
Reading, writing and erasing mRNA methylation    Sara Zaccara, Ryan J. Ries & Samie R. Jaffreypp608 - 624 | doi:10.1038/s41580-019-0168-5N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant mRNA internal modification. The recent mapping of m6A has provided insights into which and how mRNAs are modified, how m6A affects gene expression and how it is linked to cellular differentiation, cancer progression and other biological processes. Full Text | PDF
Roles and regulation of histone methylation in animal development    Ashwini Jambhekar, Abhinav Dhall & Yang Shipp625 - 641 | doi:10.1038/s41580-019-0151-1Histone methylation regulates gene expression throughout animal development, governing processes as diverse as cell fate decisions, lineage specification, body patterning and organogenesis. Better understanding of the complex, context-specific roles of histone methylation in development will shed new light on the aetiology of developmental disorders. Full Text | PDF
The regulation, functions and clinical relevance of arginine methylation    Ernesto Guccione & Stéphane Richardpp642 - 657 | doi:10.1038/s41580-019-0155-xThe methylation of arginine residues regulates gene expression, DNA repair, growth factor signalling and liquid–liquid phase separation. Targeting this modification can thus be therapeutically relevant and inhibitors of arginine methylation are being tested in clinical trials, especially for neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Full Text | PDF