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Epigenetics meets mathematics: Towards a quantitative understanding of chromatin biology
Author(s) -
Steffen Philipp A.,
Fonseca João P.,
Ringrose Leonie
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.201200076
Subject(s) - chromatin , epigenetics , flexibility (engineering) , biology , computational biology , quantitative biology , systems biology , mathematical and theoretical biology , constant (computer programming) , genetics , computer science , dna , mathematics , gene , statistics , programming language
How fast? How strong? How many? So what? Why do numbers matter in biology? Chromatin binding proteins are forever in motion, exchanging rapidly between bound and free pools. How do regulatory systems whose components are in constant flux ensure stability and flexibility? This review explores the application of quantitative and mathematical approaches to mechanisms of epigenetic regulation. We discuss methods for measuring kinetic parameters and protein quantities in living cells, and explore the insights that have been gained by quantifying and modelling dynamics of chromatin binding proteins.