Methylation profiling of twenty promoter-CpG islands of genes which may contribute to hepatocellular carcinogenesis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents one of the major health threats in China today. A better understanding of the molecular genetics underlying malignant transformation of hepatocytes is critical to success in the battle against this disease. The methylation state of C5 of the cytosine in the CpG di-nucleotide that is enriched within or near the promoter region of over 50 % of the polymerase II genes has a drastic effect on transcription of these genes. Changes in the methylation profile of the promoters represent an alternative to genetic lesions as causative factors for the tumor-specific aberrant expression of the genes.

Methods

We have used the methylation specific PCR method in conjunction with DNA sequencing to assess the methylation state of the promote

SUBMITTER: Yu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC139988 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature