1. EPIGENETICS AND CANCER JILLIAN FROELICK, GRACE LEMPP, NIKHIL UMESH, PAIGE TUMMONS

2. THERE ARE 3 MAIN EPIGENETIC MECHANISMS. THEY ARE… DNA METHYLATION HISTONE ACETYLATION AND NON-CODING RNA

3. IN THE METHYLATION OF A TUMOR-SUPPRESSOR GENE…

4. 1. A methyl group attaches directly to the gene.

5. 2. The tumor-suppressor gene can’t be transcribed because the transcription complex can’t bind.

6. 3. With the tumor- suppressor gene inactivated, cell division isn’t regulated.

7. 4.4. Cancer cells are able to multiply.

8. WHEN DNA HISTONES OF A TUMOR-SUPPRESSOR GENE ARE DEACETYLATED…

9. 1. An acetyl group is removed from the lysine of a histone tail.

10. 2. Chromatin, which was previously loose, is now tightly compacted.

11. 3. The tumor-suppressor gene cannot be transcribed.

12. 4.4. Cancer cells are able to multiply.

13. WHEN MICRO RNA PREVENTS TRANSLATION OF SPECIFIC GENES…

14. 1. It downregulates methyltransferases, preventing the methylation of tumor-suppressor genes.

15. 2. A decrease in microRNA allows methyltransferase to methylate DNA.

16. 3. Methylation of a tumor- suppressor gene allows for uncontrolled cell growth.

17. 4.4. Cancer cells are able to multiply.

18. EPIGENETIC THERAPY

19. Utilizes DNA methylation inhibitors to reverse DNA methylation in tumor- suppressor genes. 1.

20. 2. Uses histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors to prevent the deacetylation of histones bound to tumor suppressor genes.

21. CONCLUSION