Frequent switching of Polycomb repressive marks and DNA hypermethylation in the PC3 prostate cancer cell line.

ABSTRACT: Epigenetic reprogramming is commonly observed in cancer, and is hypothesized to involve multiple mechanisms, including DNA methylation and Polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs). Here we devise a new experimental and analytical strategy using customized high-density tiling arrays to investigate coordinated patterns of gene expression, DNA methylation, and Polycomb marks which differentiate prostate cancer cells from their normal counterparts. Three major changes in the epigenomic landscape distinguish the two cell types. Developmentally significant genes containing CpG islands which are silenced by PRCs in the normal cells acquire DNA methylation silencing and lose their PRC marks (epigenetic switching). Because these genes are normally silent this switch does not cause de novo repression bu

SUBMITTER: Gal-Yam EN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2529074 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature