Epigenetics in Cancer

Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype, caused by mechanisms other than changes in the DNA sequence. Examples include DNA methylation and histone modification. These changes may remain through cell divisions and multiple generations. Epigenetic differences among individuals may account for some of the differences between monozygotic (identical) twins. Aberrant DNA methylation is also frequently associated with human aging and diseases, such as cancer.

This collection of overviews and laboratory protocols provides crucial, distilled information about the roles of epigenetics in cancer development. The overviews are geared for research scientists who need to learn more about the current understanding of epigenetic variation in humans and how the processes of DNA methylation and histone modification are regulated. The protocols give step-by-step instructions on how to detect DNA methylation using various methods such as MAPit, CHARM (arrays) and methylation-specific PCR.

This e-book — a curated collection from eLS, WIREs, and Current Protocols — offers a fantastic introduction to the fields of genetics, genomics, and oncogenesis for students or interdisciplinary collaborators.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Epigenetic Variation in Humans
eLS
Jon F. Wilkins

Genetic and Epigenetic Heterogeneity in Cancer
eLS
Joshua B. Stevens, Batoul Y. Abdallah, Steven D. Horne, Guo Liu, Steven W. Bremer and Henry H. Heng

Techniques & Applications

Mediators and Dynamics of DNA Methylation
WIREs Systems Biology and Medicine
Robert Shoemaker, Wei Wang and Kun Zhang

DNA Methylation Alterations in Multiple Myeloma as a Model for Epigenetic Changes in Cancer
WIREs Systems Biology and Medicine
Amy Sharma, Christoph J. Heuck, Melissa J. Fazzari, Jayesh Mehta, Seema Singhal, John M. Greally and Amit Verma

Ink4?-Arf Locus in Cancer and Aging
WIREs Developmental Biology
Charles J. Sherr

Protocols

Simultaneous Single-Molecule Mapping of Protein-DNA Interactions and DNA Methylation by MAPit
Current Protocols in Molecular Biology
Carolina E. Pardo, Russell P. Darst, Nancy H. Nabilsi, Amber L. Delmas and Michael P. Kladde

Comprehensive High-Throughput Arrays for Relative Methylation (CHARM)
Current Protocols in Human Genetics
Christine Ladd-Acosta, Martin J. Aryee, Jared M. Ordway and Andrew P. Feinberg

Methylation-specific PCR
Current Protocols in Human Genetics
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