Abstract
Epigenetics is the study which involves the modifications in gene expression without changes in DNA nucleotide sequences. Methylation of DNA and chromatin remodeling through histone proteins are believed to be the most crucial epigenetic changes. Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are also shown to mediate the epigenetic gene regulation in mammals.DNA methylation can activate or inhibit the differentiation of stem cells by affecting the regulatory regions of its developmental genes like Oct4, Nanog and Sox2. In cancer, mutations in genetic as well as epigenetic elements play a vital role. The epigenetic changes in cancer are distinct in that they can be therapeutically reversed more easily. Aberrant DNA methylation (hypomethylation, hypermethylation) has its role at the molecular level in a number of cancers. This review will provide an insight into the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the regulation of stem cell specific genes Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog, alongwith the epigenetic modifications leading to cancer. Keywords: Cancer epigenetics, DNA methylation, Epigenetics, Histone modifications, Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog, Stem cells.
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