Conference Scene: chromatin, replication and chromosomal stability

The Chromatin, Replication and Chromosomal Stability Conference took place on June 20-21 in Stockholm, Sweden. In this article, I outline the broad scientific program of the meeting which reflected the wide diversity in epigenetics research. Distinct histone modifications are linked with specific chromatin structures and intranuclear positioning, thereby impacting replication timing and replication initiation, which in turn are related to gene expression and cell differentiation. Interference in any of these interconnected mechanisms can result in DNA breakage and lead to the activation of repair pathways. The DNA repair mechanisms again are influenced by the chromatin structure. In summary, the conference highlighted the functional implication of epigenetics in chromatin compaction, transcription regulation, replication control and DNA repair. The tight control of all these mechanisms defines the final cellular character.