Prostate cancer epigenetics: a review on gene regulation

Lena Diaw1, Karen Woodson, John W Gillespie

  • 1SAIC-Frederick, Inc., National Cancer Institute/Advanced Technology Center, 8717 Grovemont Circle, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4605, USA. diawl@mail.nih.gov

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X-chromosome...
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Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
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Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
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Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
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The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
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