Epigenetics refers to heritable patterns of gene expression which do not depend on alterations of genomic DNA sequence.

This book provides a state-of-the-art account of a few selected hot spots by scientists at the edge in this extremely active field. It puts special emphasis on two main streams of research. One is the role of post-translational modifications of proteins, mostly histones, on chromatin structure and accessibility. The other one deals with parental genomic imprinting, a process which allows to express a few selected genes from only one of the parental allele while extinguishing the other.

Splicing of primary RNA transcript, i.e. removal of introns and joining of exons to produce mature mRNAs competent for translation into proteins, is a quasi-systematic step of gene expression in higher organisms. However, this process is not unequivocal but can follow alternate pathways. Alternative splicing of a given transcript can therefore yield several distinct mRNAs encoding as many different proteins. Its full biological significance has not been appreciated until it was recognized that alternative splicing is so general as to affect about 75% of all human genes. Therefore, alternative splicing not only vastly increases protein diversity but also offers numerous opportunities for aberrant splicing events with pathological consequences.

Over the last few years remarkable progress has been accomplished with respect to our understanding of nuclear structure and trafficking. This volume concentrates on aspects that involve or are of relevance to RNA and RNPs. Topics include fundamental advances and current problems in the structural organization of different subnuclear compartments: chromatin, nucleolus and perinucleolar compartment, Cajal bodies and gems, speckles containing splicing factors, as well as the PML bodies characteristic of ProMyelocytic Leukemia. It also describes recent progress in the dynamic aspects of RNA trafficking and in the latest technologies for live cell imaging of mRNA. The major general message of this volume is that nuclear structure is much more dynamic than previously anticipated.

Epigenetics refers to heritable patterns of gene expression which do not depend on alterations of genomic DNA sequence.

This book provides a state-of-the-art account of a few selected hot spots by scientists at the edge in this extremely active field. It puts special emphasis on two main streams of research. One is the role of post-translational modifications of proteins, mostly histones, on chromatin structure and accessibility. The other one deals with parental genomic imprinting, a process which allows to express a few selected genes from only one of the parental allele while extinguishing the other.

Splicing of primary RNA transcript, i.e. removal of introns and joining of exons to produce mature mRNAs competent for translation into proteins, is a quasi-systematic step of gene expression in higher organisms. However, this process is not unequivocal but can follow alternate pathways. Alternative splicing of a given transcript can therefore yield several distinct mRNAs encoding as many different proteins. Its full biological significance has not been appreciated until it was recognized that alternative splicing is so general as to affect about 75% of all human genes. Therefore, alternative splicing not only vastly increases protein diversity but also offers numerous opportunities for aberrant splicing events with pathological consequences.

Over the last few years remarkable progress has been accomplished with respect to our understanding of nuclear structure and trafficking. This volume concentrates on aspects that involve or are of relevance to RNA and RNPs. Topics include fundamental advances and current problems in the structural organization of different subnuclear compartments: chromatin, nucleolus and perinucleolar compartment, Cajal bodies and gems, speckles containing splicing factors, as well as the PML bodies characteristic of ProMyelocytic Leukemia. It also describes recent progress in the dynamic aspects of RNA trafficking and in the latest technologies for live cell imaging of mRNA. The major general message of this volume is that nuclear structure is much more dynamic than previously anticipated.