Even as a relatively new field in science, there are many companies, universities, and research labs that support and/or create products that enhance the studies and development of epigenetics. Each of the images are linked to their respective websites.
Epigentek Group Inc. is the leading developer and provider of innovative technologies and products for epigenetic-related research. On their site, Epigentek states that their mission is "To build and become the world-leading, complete and systematic provider of epigenetic-related products, technologies, and services through innovative and intelligent research and development" (6). Founded in 2005, the company has since developed a "comprehensive portfolio of proprietary products to provide complete and systematic solutions for epigenetics-related research and drug discovery." Epigentek products are used all around the world by esteemed academia, leading pharmaceuticals, and cutting-edge biotechnology companies (37). These unique products are specifically designed to make assays much simpler, faster, more convenient, and highly more efficient than currently used methods."
About Epigentek
- Assist researchers on epigenetic issues
- Develop and introduce simplification and accuracy to epigenetic experiments
- Encourage and facilitate the study of epigenetics
- Pioneer and innovate epigenetic products through routine analysis of technological trends (6)
The objectives of Epigentek:
As a publicly-traded biopharmaceutical company, MethylGene Inc. develops drugs for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Through it's extensive knowledge on biology and chemistry, they discovered a variety of molecules and chose to focus on MGCD265 for cancer and MGCD290 for fungal infections, both of which are currently in human clinical trials. (11)
"Epizyme is leading the discovery and development of small molecule histone methyltransferase (HMT) inhibitors, a new class of personalized therapeutics for the treatment of patients with genetically-defined cancers, based on breakthroughs in the field of epigenetics. HMTs are an important class of epigenetic enzymes and are strongly associated with the underlying causes of multiple human diseases including cancer. Their patient-driven approach to the creation of personalized therapeutics represents the future of cancer therapy by creating better therapeutics for the right patients more quickly and at a lower cost than traditional approaches. Epizyme was founded in 2007 by Nobel Laureate Professor Robert Horvitz, the David H. Koch Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Professor Yi Zhang of The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill." (39)
Partnerships:
About Epizyme
MethylGene is currently developing
- (TSX: MYG) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops novel therapeutics for cancer and infectious disease.
- MGCD265 - Oncology, targets the Met and VEGF kinases, which appear to play key roles in tumor development, blood vessel formation and tumor survival.
- MGCD290 - Antifungal enhances the activity and spectrum of current azole treatments against fungal pathogens. (11)
Currently, there are two laboratories at UC Davis conducting research on epigenetics: The Chédin Laboratory and the LaSalle Laboratory.
This lab is "interested in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of epigenetic regulation in human cells. In particular, [we are] studying the mechanisms that are responsible for setting up genomic cytosine DNA methylation patterns during normal development." In addition, the Chédin team is also interested on how these "mechanisms go awry in disease conditions such as imprinting disorders, auto-immune disorders and cancer." (46)
The Chédin Laboratory is affiliated with:
UC Davis Cancer Center
Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Group
Genetics Graduate Group
UCD Genome Center.
Mammalian Epigenetics
Some of the current research that the Chédin team is working on are on the genomic imprinting, DNA methyltransferases, imprinted genes/evolution of imprinting, and imprinting centers of mammalian genes. (47)
"Our laboratory is interested in the role of epigenetics in human autism-spectrum disorders. Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in chromosomes that are not encoded in the DNA sequence, including DNA methylation and chromatin organization. The clinical applications of our research include understanding the pathogenesis of the neurodevelopmental disorders autism, Rett syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and Angelman syndrome. Our laboratory has recently focused on a protein that binds to methylated DNA, methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2). The gene for MECP2 is on the X chromosome and is mutated in Rett syndrome and other neurodevelopmental disorders. We are currently testing the role of MeCP2 in the regulation of gene expression and the organization of parentally imprinted chromosomes. We are also investigating the role of MeCP2 in chromatin dynamics neuronal ontogeny during post-natal neuronal maturation in the cerebral cortex." (48)
The LaSalle Laboratory is affiliated with:
- UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute
- Compucyte Laser Scanning Cytometer
- International Rett Syndrome Association (IREA)
- UC Davis Cancer Center
- Rowe Program in Human Genetics
- Genome Center
Members of the Graduate Groups: Genetics, Biophysics, Neuroscience, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (48)
“We’re the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID), a public transdisciplinary research institute and “skunkworks” at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, focusing on the interfaces of computation, laboratory science, the humanities and entrepreneurship.” (38)
WID is currently investigating how extrinsic factors (diet, small-molecules, metabolism and environmental factors) influence the epigenome and control cellular decisions. (38)
WID is currently developing new technologies to uncover and interrogate the epigenetic code written in chemical tags. (38)
"With a focus on the molecular and physical basis for epigenetic phenomena, Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery distinguish theirselves among epigenetic research efforts, and provide innovative technologies to move the field forward. Cutting edge technologies will include AFM, cryoEM, or single molecule technologies to explore the structural changes of epigenetic modifications, developing and utilizing high-throughput MS analysis to discover new modifications, map epigenetic marks and quantify biologically relevant changes. Developing combinatory chemistries on different platforms to create epigenetic peptide libraries that can be screened by protein code writers and readers." (38)
(Image 27)
Since 1994, Zymo Research has been developing high quality yet affordable tools for DNA methylation analysis and epigenetics research. They have been known for their innovative DNA and RNA purification technologies until recently. With their rapidly expanding line of products on epigenetics, they gained the title of "The Epigenetics Company". They also have developed products for histone, chromatin, and small RNA analysis and for the next era of DNA methylation detection and analysis. (12)
"To provide the highest quality products in the industry while ensuring they are both simple to use and reliable in their performances." (12)
To date, their EZ DNA Methylation™ family of products “remain the most popular and cited technologies available for bisulfite treatment of DNA for methylation-specific analysis.” However, they have many new technologies also developed for “histone, chromatin, and small RNA analysis and for the next era of DNA methylation detection and analysis.” (12)