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Review
. 2016 Jul;30(4):285-95.
doi: 10.1016/j.blre.2016.02.002. Epub 2016 Feb 26.

Epigenetics: A primer for clinicians

Benjamin E Paluch  1 , Abdul R Naqash  2 , Zachary Brumberger  3 , Michael J Nemeth  4 , Elizabeth A Griffiths  5
Affiliations
Review

Epigenetics: A primer for clinicians

Benjamin E Paluch et al. Blood Rev. 2016 Jul.

Abstract

With recent advances in cellular biology, we now appreciate that modifications to DNA and histones can have a profound impact on transcription and function, even in the absence of changes to DNA sequence. These modifications, now commonly referred to as "epigenetic" alterations, have changed how we understand cell behavior, reprogramming and differentiation and have provided significant insight into the mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis. Epigenetic alterations, to this point, are largely identified by changes in DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation as well as methylation, acetylation, and phosphorylation of histone tails. These modifications enable significant flexibility in gene expression, rather than just turning genes "ON" or "OFF." Herein we describe the epigenetic landscape in the regulation of gene expression with a particular focus on interrogating DNA methylation in myeloid malignancy.

Keywords: 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5HmC); 5-Methylcytosine (5mC); Cytosine phospho-guanine (CpG); DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs); DNMT inhibitor (DNMTi); Hypomethylating agent (HMA); Ten eleven translocation (TET).

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Epigenetic regulation of A) gene repression and B) gene expression. TSS, transcription start site. Amino acids subjected to post translational modification are denoted according to the histone protein, single letter code amino add and specific modification.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Postulated mechanisms of action of azanudeosides. TSGs, Tumor Suppressor Genes; CTAs, Cancer Testis Antigens; APM, Antigen Presentation Machinery
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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