Editing the epigenome: technologies for programmable transcription and epigenetic modulation

Abstract

Virtually any DNA sequence can be targeted with new customizable epigenome-engineering tools that regulate gene expression by modifying transcription and/or epigenetic state. Making site-specific alterations to the epigenomic landscape in eukaryotic cells is a powerful strategy for interrogating the mechanistic relationships among chromatin state, gene regulation, and cell phenotype. Furthermore, control over gene regulation is a valuable tool for applications such as gene therapy and reprogramming cell fate (Fig. 1).