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Chromatin Modifications as Targets for New Anticancer Drugs
Author(s) -
Schäfer Stefan,
Jung Manfred
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
archiv der pharmazie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.468
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1521-4184
pISSN - 0365-6233
DOI - 10.1002/ardp.200500984
Subject(s) - chromatin , acetylation , histone , epigenetics , chromatin remodeling , histone modifying enzymes , transcription (linguistics) , methylation , enzyme , chemistry , transcription factor , computational biology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , dna , biochemistry , gene , linguistics , philosophy
Chromatin proteins undergo diverse posttranslational modifications, esp. acetylation and methylation, that contribute to the control of transcriptional processes. The result of these modifications in its various states is called the histone code . This review presents an overview of those modifications of chromatin proteins that affect the side chains of lysines and arginines and define variations of the chromatin acetylome and methylome. The relevant enzymes are presented and the feasibility to influence their activity by inhibition or activation is discussed. The manipulation of these enzymes is an exciting strategy towards an increased understanding of their role in the functionality of a cell. Additionally, this may lead to new approaches for the treatment of diseases that are based on a dysregu lation of transcription, especially cancer.