Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms play a crucial role in cellular proliferation, migration and differentiation in both normal and neoplastic development. One of the key signaling pathways whose components are altered through the epigenetic mechanisms is the Wnt signaling pathway. In this review, we briefly discuss the key concepts of epigenetics and focus on the recent advances in the Wnt signaling pathway research and its potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
Highlights
When we think of epigenetics, we mean those changes in the DNA molecule that alter the expression of genes, but keep intact the DNA nucleotide sequence
Three epigenetic mechanisms whereby a cell regulates its basic processes of transcription, translation, replication and DNA repair include DNA methylation, histone methylation and acetylation and the action of small interfering RNA molecules that disrupt protein synthesis [2]
Once the change in DNA methylation takes place, following cell division the altered pattern is transferred into daughter cells by the action DNA methyltransferase enzyme, which recognizes hemimethylated sites and methylates newly synthesized DNA formed during replication [3]
Summary
When we think of epigenetics, we mean those changes in the DNA molecule that alter the expression of genes, but keep intact the DNA nucleotide sequence. In the case of DNA methylation, the most extensively studied mechanism of epigenetic control of gene expression it is global hypomethylation in tumor cells that leads to chromosomal (genome) instability, which is central to carcinogenesis [5]. Ljiljana Serman et al.: Epigenetic alterations of the Wnt signaling pathway in cancer a mini review changes can be employed in early tumor detection, prognosis and evaluation of ongoing anti-cancer therapy.
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