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PMID: 18778722 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Review

DNA methylation in development and human disease.

Mutation research ·Vol. 647 ·No. 1-2 ·2008-12-01 ·Pages 30-8

Gopalakrishnan S, Van Emburgh BO, Robertson KD

Abstract

DNA methylation is a heritable and stable epigenetic mark associated with transcriptional repression. Changes in the patterns and levels of global and regional DNA methylation regulate development and contribute directly to disease states such as cancer. Recent findings provide intriguing insights into the epigenetic crosstalk between DNA methylation, histone modifications, and small interfering RNAs in the control of cell development and carcinogenesis. In this review, we summarize the recent studies in DNA methylation primarily focusing on the interplay between different epigenetic modifications and their potential role in gene silencing in development and disease. Although the molecular mechanisms involved in the epigenetic crosstalk are not fully understood, unraveling their precise regulation is important not only for understanding the underpinnings of cellular development and cancer, but also for the design of clinically relevant and efficient therapeutics using stem cells and anticancer drugs that target tumor initiating cells.

MeSH Terms
Animals Cell Differentiation DNA Methylation Epigenesis, Genetic Gene Silencing Growth and Development/genetics Humans Models, Genetic Neoplasms/genetics Pluripotent Stem Cells/physiology Polycomb-Group Proteins Repressor Proteins/metabolism
Chemicals
Polycomb-Group Proteins Repressor Proteins
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Gopalakrishnan Suhasni
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Van Emburgh Beth O
Robertson Keith D
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Article Info
Journal
Mutation research
Abbr.
Mutat Res
ISSN
0027-5107
DOI
10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2008.08.006
Published
2008-12-01
Epub
2008-00-20
Pages
30-8
Language
English
Region
Netherlands
NLM ID
0400763
PMCID
PMC2647981
Subset
IM
Grants
NCI NIH HHS · R01CA116028 · United States
NCI NIH HHS · R01 CA116028 · United States
NCI NIH HHS · R01 CA114229 · United States
NCI NIH HHS · R01 CA114229-04 · United States
NCI NIH HHS · F32CA132327 · United States
NCI NIH HHS · R01 CA116028-03 · United States
NCI NIH HHS · R01CA114229 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2008.08.006 PMC Full Text View journal details
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