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Updated: May 6, 2026

Author Spotlight: Epigenetic Modifications and Metabolic Rewiring as Targets for Cancer Therapy
Published on: October 18, 2024
Histone H3.3 mutations: a variant path to cancer
Benjamin T K Yuen1, Paul S Knoepfler
1Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 4303 Tupper Hall, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Genome Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 451 Health Sciences Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Institute of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
Mutant histone H3.3 (histone 3 variant 3) promotes pediatric brain cancers by disrupting epigenetic modifications. These histone changes also broadly contribute to human cancer development.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Aberrant histone modifications are common in various cancers.
- Specific mutations in histone H3.3 (histone 3 variant 3) are recurrent in pediatric brain tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review mechanisms by which mutant H3.3 histones promote tumorigenesis.
- To discuss the broader role of H3.3 epigenetic dysfunction in human cancer.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on histone H3.3 mutations and cancer.
- Analysis of epigenetic mechanisms affected by mutant H3.3.
Main Results:
- Mutant H3.3 disrupts epigenetic marks near genes critical for brain function and cancer.
- Perturbations in H3.3 chromatin regulation contribute to tumorigenesis.
Conclusions:
- Mutant H3.3 is a key driver in pediatric brain cancers.
- H3.3 epigenetic dysregulation is a significant factor in human cancer formation.
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