Methylation, gene expression and the chromatin connection in cancer (review)

Gray,S G; Eriksson,T; Ekström,T J

doi:10.3892/ijmm.4.4.333

Oct 1999 Volume 4 Issue 4

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International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Molecular Medicine is an international journal devoted to molecular mechanisms of human disease.

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Covers molecular medicine topics such as pharmacology, pathology, genetics, neuroscience, infectious diseases, molecular cardiology, and molecular surgery.

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Oncology Reports is an international journal devoted to fundamental and applied research in Oncology.

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Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine is an international journal devoted to laboratory and clinical medicine.

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International journal addressing all aspects of oncology research, from tumorigenesis and oncogenes to chemotherapy and metastasis.

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Publishes open-access research on using epigenetics to advance understanding and treatment of human disease.

Medicine International

An International Open Access Journal Devoted to General Medicine.

Oct 1999 Volume 4 Issue 4

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Review

Methylation, gene expression and the chromatin connection in cancer (review)

Authors:
- S G Gray
- T Eriksson
- T J Ekström
View Affiliations / Copyright

Affiliations: Laboratory for Molecular Development and Tumor Biology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Hospital, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
Pages: 333-383
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Published online on: October 1, 1999

https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.4.4.333
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Abstract

The mechanisms by which cells regulate gene expression are often altered in tumors. Modulating aspects of the components responsible for the nuclear packaging of DNA is one means by which the cell can control transcription, either by packaging the DNA such that access to specific sites of transcription is blocked or by modifying the DNA itself to prevent transcription factor binding. One such DNA modification is the methylation of cytosines. In addition, histone acetylation status has been linked recently through a large number of studies to the regulation of gene expression. Expressed genes are located in highly acetylated chromatin. The acetylation status of nucleosomes (the basic packaging unit of chromatin), is regulated by a group of enzymes, histone acetyltransferases (HATs), and histone deacetylases (HDACs). These two elements, methylation and histone acetylation have also been linked together, whereby methylation is used to direct gene repression through a histone deacetylase complex. Methylation, HATs, and HDACs have been shown to be altered in tumors. We present an overview of the current knowledge surrounding these elements in cancer, and in the final sections describe the likelihood of alterations of the histone modifying apparatus in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Oncology

Molecular Medicine Reports

Oncology Reports

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Oncology Letters

Biomedical Reports

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

World Academy of Sciences Journal

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Epigenetics

Medicine International

Methylation, gene expression and the chromatin connection in cancer (review)

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Abstract

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