Abstract
Genetics has been transformational for understanding causes and mechanisms of human diseases, developing diagnostics approaches, and providing indirect therapeutic interventions that target molecule functions upstream and downstream of mutated genes. Significant efforts have been given to correct genetic alterations or deliver genes in the clinical setting by gene therapy approaches. However, in spite of early promises and current significant advances, gene therapy has not yet brought useful protocols to the bedside for diseases that are multigenic in nature, such as cancer. Epigenetics is emerging as a revolutionary science in biology, which studies mechanisms that regulate entire gene networks to give rise to and maintain phenotypes independent of the coding capacity of DNA. In fact, epigenetic alterations appear to be more common than genetics as a cause of chronic diseases by silencing or activating single genes or entire gene networks. More importantly, epigenetic alterations can, by definition, be inherited, thereby propagating disease-prone phenotypes. Fortunately, in the last decade, extensive investigations have resulted in the development of small drugs that modify the epigenome in a reversible manner. This chapter will summarize the most conspicuous advances in this field and discuss how epigenetic pharmacology is becoming a solid foundation for mechanistic experiments and new therapies.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Chromatin Signaling and Diseases |
| Publisher | Elsevier Inc. |
| Pages | 387-401 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780128026090 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780128023891 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 24 2016 |
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Keywords
- DNA methylation
- Epigenetics
- Histone-modifying enzymes
- Non-coding RNA
- Pharmacology
- Therapeutics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
Cite this
Pharmacological and Therapeutic Targeting of Epigenetic Regulators. / Urrutia, Raul; Lomberk, Gwen A.
Chromatin Signaling and Diseases. Elsevier Inc., 2016. p. 387-401.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
}
TY - CHAP
T1 - Pharmacological and Therapeutic Targeting of Epigenetic Regulators
AU - Urrutia, Raul
AU - Lomberk, Gwen A.
PY - 2016/8/24
Y1 - 2016/8/24
N2 - Genetics has been transformational for understanding causes and mechanisms of human diseases, developing diagnostics approaches, and providing indirect therapeutic interventions that target molecule functions upstream and downstream of mutated genes. Significant efforts have been given to correct genetic alterations or deliver genes in the clinical setting by gene therapy approaches. However, in spite of early promises and current significant advances, gene therapy has not yet brought useful protocols to the bedside for diseases that are multigenic in nature, such as cancer. Epigenetics is emerging as a revolutionary science in biology, which studies mechanisms that regulate entire gene networks to give rise to and maintain phenotypes independent of the coding capacity of DNA. In fact, epigenetic alterations appear to be more common than genetics as a cause of chronic diseases by silencing or activating single genes or entire gene networks. More importantly, epigenetic alterations can, by definition, be inherited, thereby propagating disease-prone phenotypes. Fortunately, in the last decade, extensive investigations have resulted in the development of small drugs that modify the epigenome in a reversible manner. This chapter will summarize the most conspicuous advances in this field and discuss how epigenetic pharmacology is becoming a solid foundation for mechanistic experiments and new therapies.
AB - Genetics has been transformational for understanding causes and mechanisms of human diseases, developing diagnostics approaches, and providing indirect therapeutic interventions that target molecule functions upstream and downstream of mutated genes. Significant efforts have been given to correct genetic alterations or deliver genes in the clinical setting by gene therapy approaches. However, in spite of early promises and current significant advances, gene therapy has not yet brought useful protocols to the bedside for diseases that are multigenic in nature, such as cancer. Epigenetics is emerging as a revolutionary science in biology, which studies mechanisms that regulate entire gene networks to give rise to and maintain phenotypes independent of the coding capacity of DNA. In fact, epigenetic alterations appear to be more common than genetics as a cause of chronic diseases by silencing or activating single genes or entire gene networks. More importantly, epigenetic alterations can, by definition, be inherited, thereby propagating disease-prone phenotypes. Fortunately, in the last decade, extensive investigations have resulted in the development of small drugs that modify the epigenome in a reversible manner. This chapter will summarize the most conspicuous advances in this field and discuss how epigenetic pharmacology is becoming a solid foundation for mechanistic experiments and new therapies.
KW - DNA methylation
KW - Epigenetics
KW - Histone-modifying enzymes
KW - Non-coding RNA
KW - Pharmacology
KW - Therapeutics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85018796379&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85018796379&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-12-802389-1.00021-6
DO - 10.1016/B978-0-12-802389-1.00021-6
M3 - Chapter
SN - 9780128023891
SP - 387
EP - 401
BT - Chromatin Signaling and Diseases
PB - Elsevier Inc.
ER -