EPIGENETIC
S
AND CANCER
J I LL I A
N FRO E L I C
K , GRAC E L EM P P ,
N I KH I L U
M E SH , PA I G
E TUMMONS
THERE ARE 3 MAIN EPIGENETIC MECHANISMS. THEY ARE…
DNA METHYLATIONHISTONE ACETYLATIONAND NON-CODING RNA
IN THE METHYLATION OF A TUMOR-SUPPRESSOR GENE…
1. A methyl group
attaches directly to the
gene.
2.The tumor-suppressor
gene can’t be transcribed because
the transcription complex can’t bind.
3. With the tumor-
suppressor gene inactivated, cell
division isn’t regulated.
4.
Cancer cells are able to
multiply.
WHEN DNA HISTONES OF A TUMOR-
SUPPRESSOR GENE ARE DEACETYLATED…
1. An acetyl group is
removed from the lysine of a histone
tail.
2. Chromatin, which was
previously loose, is now tightly compacted.
3. The tumor-suppressor
gene cannot be transcribed.
4.
Cancer cells are able to
multiply.
WHEN MICRORNA PREVENTS
TRANSLATION OF SPECIFIC GENES…
1. It downregulates methyltransferases,
preventing the methylation of tumor-
suppressor genes.
2. A decrease in
microRNA allows methyltransferase to methylate DNA.
3.Methylation of a tumor-suppressor gene allows
for uncontrolled cell growth.
4.
Cancer cells are able to
multiply.
EPIGENETIC THERAPY
Utilizes DNA methylation inhibitors to reverse DNA
methylation in tumor-suppressor
genes.
1.
2. Uses histone deacetylase (HDAC)
inhibitors to prevent the
deacetylation of histones bound to tumor suppressor
genes.
CONCLUSION