Professor Carsten Carlberg has published a comprehensive new textbook, Gene Regulation and Epigenetics: How Science Works, presenting the current understanding of gene regulation and epigenomics. Published by Springer and designed for graduate students, this textbook builds on Professor Carlberg’s lectures at the University of Eastern Finland.

Gene expression determines the phenotype of cells and tissues, making the regulation of gene expression fundamental to nearly all physiological processes, in both health and disease. Environmental factors, such as diet and infections, influence these processes. "A solid grasp of gene regulation concepts is essential for students across biomedical fields," Professor Carlberg emphasises.

Within the cell nucleus, our DNA is organised into chromatin, a structure that via epigenetic programming controls gene accessibility. Although all cells of our body share the same genome, each cell type has a unique epigenome that defines which genes are active. Environmental signals can shape gene activity through epigenetic modifications, and while some changes persist, they can also be reversed. For instance, unhealthy lifestyle choices may trigger epigenetic changes that lead to insulin resistance in metabolic tissues, but with significant lifestyle improvements, these changes can be reversed.

The book highlights the central role of transcription factors in gene regulation. Among the 1,600 human genes encoding transcription factors, the textbook focuses on the most significant players, such as p53, NFkB and nuclear receptors like the estrogen receptor.

Following introductory chapters, the book addresses gene regulation from the viewpoint of transcription factors, moving on to explore chromatin dynamics and non-coding RNA. It examines epigenetics from both health and disease perspectives, with a glossary in the appendix explaining key terms.

The textbook is closely aligned with the “Molecular Medicine and Genetics” course, which Professor Carlberg has taught since 2002 in different forms at the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio. This new publication serves as an updated and combined version of Carlberg’s previous textbooks, Mechanisms of Gene Regulation and Human Epigenomics.

Professor Carsten Carlberg is a Professor of Biochemistry at the Institute of Biomedicine at the University of Eastern Finland.