Distinct functional patterns of gene promoter hypomethylation and hypermethylation in cancer genomes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Aberrant DNA methylation plays important roles in carcinogenesis. However, the functional significance of genome-wide hypermethylation and hypomethylation of gene promoters in carcinogenesis currently remain unclear.

Principal findings

Based on genome-wide methylation data for five cancer types, we showed that genes with promoter hypermethylation were highly consistent in function across different cancer types, and so were genes with promoter hypomethylation. Functions related to "developmental processes" and "regulation of biology processes" were significantly enriched with hypermethylated genes but were depleted of hypomethylated genes. In contrast, functions related to "cell killing" and "response to stimulus", including immune and inflammatory response, were a

SUBMITTER: Shen X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3436878 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature