Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

An Integrated Platform for Genome-wide Mapping of Chromatin States Using High-throughput ChIP-sequencing in Tumor Tissues
10:41

An Integrated Platform for Genome-wide Mapping of Chromatin States Using High-throughput ChIP-sequencing in Tumor Tissues

Published on: April 5, 2018

[Molecular mechanisms involved in epigenetic alterations in cancer]

Minoru Toyota1, Hiromu Suzuki, Takahiro Nishizaka

  • 1Dept. of Biochemistry, Sapporo Medical University, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Japan.

Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer & Chemotherapy
|September 16, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic alterations, including DNA methylation and histone modification, silence genes in cancer development. These changes impact cell cycle, apoptosis, DNA repair, and microRNA expression, offering potential new cancer therapy targets.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Genetics
  • Epigenetics

Context:

  • Epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation and histone modifications are crucial in gene regulation.
  • These alterations are increasingly recognized for their role in tumorigenesis, affecting critical cellular processes.
  • Specific enzymes involved in epigenetic regulation, such as DNMT3A, UTX, and EZH2, are frequently mutated in various cancers.

Purpose:

  • To explore the role of epigenetic alterations in gene silencing during cancer development.
  • To highlight the impact of DNA methylation on genes controlling cell cycle, apoptosis, and DNA repair.
  • To investigate the involvement of epigenetic changes in microRNA silencing and their implications in cancer.

Summary:

  • Epigenetic alterations, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, are key mechanisms for gene silencing in cancer.
  • DNA methylation influences the expression of genes vital for cell cycle control, programmed cell death (apoptosis), and DNA repair pathways.
  • Recent findings indicate that epigenetic modifications also contribute to the silencing of microRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression.

Impact:

  • Understanding these epigenetic mechanisms provides insights into cancer development and progression.
  • Mutations in epigenetic regulators (DNMT3A, UTX, EZH2) are common in tumors, underscoring their significance.
  • Genes involved in epigenetic regulation represent promising novel targets for future cancer therapies.

More Related Videos

Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation21:24

Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation

Published on: January 2, 2009

Extraction of Histones from Clinical Specimens for Epigenetic Profiling by Mass Spectrometry10:54

Extraction of Histones from Clinical Specimens for Epigenetic Profiling by Mass Spectrometry

Published on: November 21, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Histone Modification02:32

Histone Modification

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
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...