title: Epigenetics: A primer for clinicians.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Center for Pharmacology and Genetics Building (CGP), Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), Elm and Carlton Street, 14263 Buffalo, NY, USA. Electronic address: benjamin.paluch@roswellpark.org.
authors.forename: Benjamin E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Paluch
authors.affiliation: Catholic Health, State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY), 2157 Main Street, 14214 Buffalo, NY, USA. Electronic address: rafehnaqash@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Abdul R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Naqash
authors.affiliation: University at Buffalo State University of New York, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 3435 Main Street, 14260 Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Brumberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, RPCI, Elm and Carlton Street, 14263 Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Nemeth
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Center for Pharmacology and Genetics Building (CGP), Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), Elm and Carlton Street, 14263 Buffalo, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, RPCI, Elm and Carlton Street, 14263 Buffalo, NY, USA; Leukemia Division, RPCI, Elm and Carlton Street, 14263 Buffalo, NY, USA. Electronic address: elizabeth.griffiths@roswellpark.org.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans
keywords: 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5HmC); 5-Methylcytosine (5mC); Cytosine phospho-guanine (CpG); DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs); DNMT inhibitor (DNMTi); Hypomethylating agent (HMA); Ten eleven translocation (TET)