title: [Role and significance of DNA methylation].
abstract: DNA methylation is covalent addition of a methyl group to cytosine within the CpG dinucleotide. It has profound effects on the mammalian genome. These effects include transcriptional repression via inhibition of transcription factor binding, X chromosome inactivation, and imprinting. DNA methylation is important for both DNA repair and genome stability. Normal methylation patterns are frequently disrupted in tumour cells with global hypomethylation accompanying region-specific hypermethylation. When this hypermethylation occurs within the promoter of a tumour suppressor gene it could silence the gene and provide the cell with a growth advantage in a way similar to deletions or mutations. There is considerable evidence suggesting that alterations in DNA methylation play an important role in tumorigenesis and tumour progression.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Hematoonkologii Akademii Medycznej w Lublinie.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kowal
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wojcierowski
mesh_terms: D019175:DNA Methylation; D004260:DNA Repair; D015257:DNA-Cytosine Methylases / Q000378:metabolism; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C081573:DNA modification methylase SssI; D015257:DNA-Cytosine Methylases