Gene regulatory mechanisms downstream of DNA methylation.

Specialized reader proteins and transcription factors interpret DNA methylation to regulate gene expression and chromatin structure in mammals and plants.

• Why it matters: Understanding how DNA methylation influences transcriptional programs and chromatin architecture is crucial for comprehending development, differentiation, and disease mechanisms.
• What they did: The review discusses how reader proteins and transcription factors interpret methylation, recruit effector complexes, and interact with other epigenetic systems to mediate gene silencing and activation across diverse species.
• The result: Multiple overlapping and redundant methylation-dependent mechanisms produce stable transcriptional and epigenetic states, offering a framework for understanding epigenome regulation in health and disease.