title: PEpiD: a prostate epigenetic database in mammals.
abstract: Epigenetic mechanisms play key roles in initiation and progression of prostate cancer by changing gene expression. The Prostate Epigenetic Database (PEpiD: http://wukong.tongji.edu.cn/pepid) archives the three extensively characterized epigenetic mechanisms DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNA implicated in prostate cancer of human, mouse, and rat. PEpiD uses a distinct color scheme to present the three types of epigenetic data and provides a user-friendly interface for flexible query. The retrieved information includes Refseq ID, gene symbol, gene alias, genomic loci of epigenetic changes, tissue source, experimental method, and supportive references. The change of histone modification (hyper or hypo) and the corresponding gene expression change (up or down) are also indicated. A graphic view of DNA methylation with exon-intron structure and predicted CpG islands is provided as well. Moreover, the prostate-related ENCODE tracks (DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodelers), and other key transcription factors with reported roles in prostate are displayed in the browser as well. The reversibility of epigenetic aberrations has made them potential markers for diagnosis and prognosis, and targets for treatment of cancers. This curated information will improve our understanding of epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation in prostate cancer, and serve as an important resource for epigenetic research in prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Department of Bioinformatics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, The School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jiejun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yanhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Cizhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D006657:Histones