Analysis of genome instability and centric DNA hypomethylation in cancer cells.

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24700954
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Carcinogenesis
• Research Institution: Kitasato University
• Principal Investigator: YAMAZAKI TAIGA 北里大学, 北里大学メディカルセンター, 上級研究員 (90524231)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 癌 / DNAメチル化 / セントロメア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Hypomethylation of non-coding DNAs, such as centromere, is a unique character of cancer cells, but little is known about biological function of DNA hypomethylation in centromere. The purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between malignant transformation of cells and dynamics of DNA methylation in centromere. Forced expression of oncogenic genes was sufficient for malignant transformation of cultured cells, but was not correlated with centromere hypomethylation. We screened various cancer cells, and revealed that human melanoma cell lines show pericentric hypomethylation. We detected satellite transcripts derived from hypermethylated centric satellites in melanoma, whereas transcripts derived from hypomethylated pericentric satellites were not detected. These results suggests DNA methylation may not be involved in transcriptional regulation of centric/ pericentric satellites in melanoma celllines.

Free Research Field

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