Histone Modifications and their Role in Epigenetics of Cancer

Abstract

Epigenetic regulations play a crucial role in the expression of various genes that are important in the normal cell function. Any alteration in these epigenetic mechanisms can lead to the modification of histone and DNA, resulting in the silencing or enhanced expression of some genes causing various diseases. Acetylation, methylation, ribosylation, or phosphorylation of histone proteins modifies its interaction with the DNA, consequently changing the ratio of heterochromatin and euchromatin. Terminal lysine residues of histone proteins serve as potential targets of such epigenetic modifications. The current review focuses on the histone modifications, and their contributing factors; the role of these modifications on metabolism leads to cancer, and methylation of histone in cancer affects the DNA repair mechanisms.

Keywords: Cancer; epigenetics; euchromatin; heterochromatin; phosphorylation; ribosylation.