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A DNA methylation–based switch generates bistable gene expression

A new study examines the agn43 epigenetic switch of Escherichia coli, providing an alternative to feedback regulation as a model for gene expression regulation. Through a combination of synthetic network construction and computational modeling, the authors show that the generated bistable gene expression involves transitions between several rarely occupied states between 'on' and 'off'.

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Bennett, M., Hasty, J. A DNA methylation–based switch generates bistable gene expression. Nat Genet 39, 146–147 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0207-146

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