Kampranis Sotirios C, Tsichlis Philip N
Molecular Oncology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA.
Adv Cancer Res. 2009;102:103-69. doi: 10.1016/S0065-230X(09)02004-1.
Epigenetic modifications are heritable chromatin alterations that contribute to the temporal and spatial interpretation of the genome. The epigenetic information is conveyed through a multitude of chemical modifications, including DNA methylation, reversible modifications of histones, and ATP-dependent nucleosomal remodeling. Deregulation of the epigenetic machinery contributes to the development of several pathologies, including cancer. Chromatin modifications are multiple and interdependent and they are dynamically modulated in the course of various biological processes. Combinations of chromatin modifications give rise to a complex code that is superimposed on the genetic code embedded into the DNA sequence to regulate cell function. This review addresses the role of epigenetic modifications in cancer, focusing primarily on histone methylation marks and the enzymes catalyzing their removal.
表观遗传修饰是可遗传的染色质改变，有助于对基因组进行时空解读。表观遗传信息通过多种化学修饰来传递，包括DNA甲基化、组蛋白的可逆修饰以及ATP依赖的核小体重塑。表观遗传机制失调会导致包括癌症在内的多种疾病的发生。染色质修饰多种多样且相互依存，在各种生物过程中会受到动态调控。染色质修饰的组合产生了一种复杂的密码，它叠加在嵌入DNA序列中的遗传密码之上，以调节细胞功能。本综述探讨了表观遗传修饰在癌症中的作用，主要聚焦于组蛋白甲基化标记以及催化其去除的酶。
