Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026
13:21
Comprehensive DNA Methylation Analysis Using a Methyl-CpG-binding Domain Capture-based Method in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients
Published on: June 16, 2017
Dynamics of epigenetic modifications in leukemia.
Iris Uribesalgo1, Luciano Di Croce
1Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona 08003, Spain. luciano.dicroce@crg.es
Briefings in Functional Genomics
|January 25, 2011
Summary
Epigenetic modifications regulate gene expression. Aberrant epigenetic marks, particularly from fusion proteins in hematopoietic stem cells, drive acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) development.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- Chromatin modifications (histone and DNA) are crucial for gene expression regulation.
- Epigenetic dysregulation is implicated in hematopoietic malignancies like acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML).
- Polycomb group proteins are key transcriptional repressors often mis-regulated in cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review epigenetic modifications and their role in gene transcription.
- To discuss the impact of mis-regulated epigenetic marks in hematopoietic cancers.
- To highlight fusion proteins as drivers of aberrant epigenetic regulation in AML.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of chromatin modifications.
- Discussion of polycomb group proteins' function.
- Analysis of chromosomal translocations and fusion proteins in AML.
Main Results:
- Epigenetic abnormalities are central to hematopoietic system cancers.
- Fusion proteins (e.g., PML-RARa, AML1-ETO, MLL-fusions) aberrantly regulate chromatin.
- These aberrant epigenetic changes contribute to the pathogenesis of AML.
Conclusions:
- Understanding epigenetic mis-regulation mechanisms in AML is vital.
- Targeting epigenetic pathways offers potential therapeutic strategies for AML.
- Further research into these mechanisms could lead to novel AML treatments.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:37Epigenetic 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...
X-chromosome...
01:46Epigenetic Regulation
Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
01:46Epigenetic Regulation
Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
02:32Histone 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,...
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
02:32Histone 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,...
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
03:17Inheritance of Chromatin Structures
Epigenetics is the study of inherited changes in a cell's phenotype without changing the DNA sequences. It provides a form of memory for the differential gene expression pattern to maintain cell lineage, position-effect variegation, dosage compensation, and maintenance of chromatin structures such as telomeres and centromeres. For example, the structure and location of the centromere on chromosomes are epigenetically inherited. Its functionality is not dictated or ensured by the underlying DNA...