Biochemistry (Check on Virginia Garner Video)

[Guest guest]

Silenced Genes As A Warning Sign Of Blood Cancer:

" In many types of cancer, parts of the genetic material of tumor cells are

switched off by chemical labels called methyl groups. This kind of methyl

labeling ranges among the epigenetic changes that do not change the sequence of

DNA building blocks. Such labels are found particularly often in genes which act

as important inhibitors of pathogenic cell growth.

" The study of these questions is a very promising area of research, because

there are drugs available that can prevent the attachment of methyl groups or

other epigenetic changes and, thus, at least delay the onset of cancer.

" Professor Dr. Christoph Plass at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches

Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) has investigated, jointly with colleagues from the

Ohio State University in Columbus, U.S.A., the processes leading to the

different methyl labels in cancer cells. A key question is when the first labels

occur in the development of cancer. In their recently published study the

investigators used mice affected by chronic lymphocytic leukemia as a model for

studying the disease.

" Epigenetics: There is a second code that serves as an additional control

level. In addition to the genetic switches that are directly integrated in the

genetic material, the DNA, genes can also be switched on or off by chemical

labeling of the DNA or the DNA packaging proteins. The most common of such

epigenetic mutations is the attachment of methyl groups. The effect of these

small chemical compounds is that a gene can no longer be read and translated

into proteins. Unlike genetic mutations, which permanently change the sequence

of the DNA building blocks, all epigenetic mutations are reversible and,

therefore, potential target structures of appropriate drugs. "

Notes:

Shih-Shih Chen, Aparna Raval, Amy J. , Hertlein, Te-Hui Liu, Victor

X. Jin, Mara Sherman, Shu-Jun Liu, W. Dawson, E. , Mark

Lanasa, Sandya Liyanarachchi, S. Lin, Guido Marcucci, Yuri Pekarsky,

Ramana Davuluri, Carlo M. Croce, Denis C. Guttridge, A. Teitell, C.

Byrd,, and Christoph Plass: Epigenetic changes during disease progression in a

murine model of human chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Proceedings of the National

Academy of Sciences, USA, 2009, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0906455106

Source:

Dr. Sibylle Kohlstaedt, Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres

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Latest video of our own Virginia Garner and Dr. Shah, a must for you to see and

hear, entitled " Side Effects of CML Treatment " .

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159900.php, click on CML side effects

on the side bar. Several other web cams which are very interesting for the

newcomer as well.

Other webcams and/or articles are on Dr. Druker and Dr. Gwen Nichols and

CML explained. Also faulty gene behind CML. Check out all the links.

FYI,

Lottie