Lessons from two human chromatin diseases, ICF syndrome and Rett syndrome

Spatial Organisation of DNA into chromatin profoundly affects gene expression and function. The recent association of genes controlling chromatin structure to human pathologies resulted in a better comprehension of the interplay between regulation and function. Among many chromatin disorders we will discuss Rett and immunodeficiency, centromeric instability and facial anomalies (ICF) syndromes. Both diseases are Caused by defects related to DNA methylation machinery, with Rett syndrome affecting the transduction of the repressive signal from the methyl CpG binding protein prototype, MeCP2, an ICF syndrome affecting the genetic control of DNA methylation, by the DNA methyltransferase DNMT3B.