Epigenetics in Cancer

Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expressionor cellular phenotype, caused by mechanisms other than changes inthe DNA sequence. Examples include DNA methylation and histonemodification. These changes may remain through cell divisions andmultiple generations. Epigenetic differences among individuals mayaccount for some of the differences between monozygotic (identical)twins. Aberrant DNA methylation is also frequently associated withhuman aging and diseases, such as cancer. This collection of overviews and laboratory protocols providescrucial, distilled information about the roles of epigenetics incancer development. The overviews are geared for researchscientists who need to learn more about the current understandingof epigenetic variation in humans and how the processes of DNAmethylation and histone modification are regulated. The protocolsgive step-by-step instructions on how to detect DNA methylationusing various methods such as MAPit, CHARM (arrays) andmethylation-specific PCR. This e-book -- a curated collection from eLS, WIREs, andCurrent Protocols -- offers a fantastic introduction to thefields of genetics, genomics, and oncogenesis for students orinterdisciplinary 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 forEpigenetic 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 Interactionsand 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 AndrewP. Feinberg Methylation-specific PCR Current Protocols in Human Genetics Bradford Coffee