EPIGENETICS AND CANCER JILLIAN FROELICK, GRACE LEMPP, NIKHIL UMESH, PAIGE TUMMONS
THERE ARE 3 MAIN EPIGENETIC MECHANISMS. THEY ARE… DNA METHYLATION HISTONE ACETYLATION AND 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.
4.4. 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.
4.4. Cancer cells are able to multiply.
WHEN MICRO RNA 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.
4.4. 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