Stem Cells and Epigenetics: From Development to Diseases

Call for Papers

The definition of epigenetics has been evolving since it was first proposed by Conrad Waddington in 1942. Currently, epigenetic modifications refer to meiotically and mitotically heritable changes in gene expression that are not coded in the DNA sequence itself. Epigenetic processes mainly include DNA methylation, histone modifications, noncoding RNA-mediated processes, and nucleosome positioning. Today, the studies about epigenetics have been one of the leading fields of studies in biology and advance very fast. Mounting evidence has demonstrated that epigenetic mechanisms play essential roles in modulating self-renewal and differentiation, fate commitment of embryonic stem cells (ES cells), tissue-specific stem cells, and disease-related stem cells such as cancer stem cells. Furthermore, it has been shown that epigenetic modifications play a critical function in the induction of pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

We sincerely invite investigators to contribute their original research articles as well as their review articles that provide novel advances to understand the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the biology of stem cells and reveal some insights into epigenetics-related disease treatment. Potential topics include, but not limited to:

• Recent advances in epigenetics including DNA methylation and demethylation, histone modifications, nucleosome positioning, and noncoding RNAs
• Roles of epigenetics in modulating the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells in embryonic development, adulthood, and normal aging
• Recent developments in epigenetics and diseases
• Advances in the interaction between environment and epigenetics
• Novel drug discovery and screening to modulate epigenetic modifications

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/sci/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/sci/sedd/ according to the following timetable:

Lead Guest Editor

• Xuekun Li, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

Guest Editors

• Ashok Shetty, Institute for Regenerative Medicine Professor, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine at Scott & White Research Career Scientist, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System
• Kunlin Jin, Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA