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Polycomb group proteins – epigenetic repressors with emerging roles in melanocytes and melanoma
Author(s) -
Huang Jennifer M.,
Hornyak Thomas J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
pigment cell and melanoma research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1755-148X
pISSN - 1755-1471
DOI - 10.1111/pcmr.12341
Subject(s) - epigenetics , biology , melanocyte , polycomb group proteins , melanoma , microbiology and biotechnology , histone , repressor , regulation of gene expression , gene expression , gene , hair follicle , cell cycle , genetics , cancer research
Summary Melanocytes undergo rapid and significant changes in their gene expression programs at regular intervals during development and the hair follicle cycle. In melanoma, the gene expression pattern found in normal melanocytes is disrupted. These gene expression patterns are regulated in part by post‐translational histone modifications catalyzed by P olycomb group ( P c G ) proteins, which play a major role in many developmental processes and are often altered in cancer. In this review, we discuss the role of the P c G proteins in stem cell and cancer biology, in general, as well as in melanocyte development and melanomagenesis. Highlights include the discussion of newly identified treatments that target the activity of P c G proteins as well as new developments in the understanding of the role that these proteins play in melanocyte biology.