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First epigenome in Europe completed

Date:
May 30, 2012
Source:
IDIBELL-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute
Summary:
Scientists have now completed the first epigenome in Europe.
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A study led by Manel Esteller, director of the Epigenetics and Cancer Biology Program at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), professor of genetics at the University of Barcelona and ICREA researcher has completed the first epigenome in Europe.

The finding is published in the journal Epigenetics.

The genome of all cells in the human body is the same for all of them, regardless their aspect and functions. Therefore, genome cannot fully explain the activity of tissues and organs and their disorders in complex diseases like cancer. It takes a further explanation. Part of this explanation is provided by epigenetics, a field of biology that studies the heredity activity of DNA that does not involve changes in its sequence. That is, if genetics is the alphabet, epigenetics is the spelling that guides the activity of our cells.

Methylation

Epigenetics refers to chemical changes in our genetic material and proteins that regulate it. The best-known epigenetic mark is the methylation, the addition of a methyl chemical group (-CH3) in our DNA. The epigenome consists of all the epigenetic marks of a living being. The authors of the study have completed the epigenomes for all brands of methylation of DNA from white blood cells of two girls: a healthy one and a patient suffering from a rare genetic disease called Immunodeficiency, Centromere instability and Facial anomalies syndrome (ICF). This disease is caused by a mutation in a gene that causes the addition of a methyl chemical group in its DNA.

The analysis performed by the researchers reveals that the patient has an epigenomic defect that causes fragility of chromosomes, which thus can easily be broken. In addition, the study shows that the patient has a wrong epigenetic control of many genes related to the response against infection, which causes a severe immune deficiency. The study coordinator, Manel Esteller, emphasizes that due to this study, "we now know what happens in this type of rare diseases and we can start thinking about strategies for new treatments based on this knowledge."

Dr. Esteller's work has been crucial to show that all human tumours have in common a specific chemical alteration: the hypermethylation of tumour suppressor genes.


Story Source:

Materials provided by IDIBELL-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Heyn H, Vidal E, Sayols S, Sanchez-Mut Jv, Moran S, Medina I, Sandoval J, Simó-Riudalbas L, Szczesna K, Huertas D, Gatto S, Matarazzo Mr, Dopazo J, Esteller M. Whole-genome bisulfite DNA sequencing of a DNMT3B mutant patient. Epigenetics, 2012

Cite This Page:

IDIBELL-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute. "First epigenome in Europe completed." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 May 2012. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120530133722.htm>.
IDIBELL-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute. (2012, May 30). First epigenome in Europe completed. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 8, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120530133722.htm
IDIBELL-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute. "First epigenome in Europe completed." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120530133722.htm (accessed December 8, 2024).

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