Epigenetic Signaling and Crosstalk in Regulation of Gene Expression and Disease Progression

Abstract

Chromatin modifications – including DNA methylation, modification of histones and recruitment of noncoding RNAs – are essential epigenetic events. Multiple sequential modifications converge into a complex epigenetic landscape. For example, promoter DNA methylation is recognized by MeCP2/methyl CpG binding domain proteins which further recruit SETDB1/SUV39 to attain a higher order chromatin structure by propagation of inactive epigenetic marks like H3K9me3. Many studies with new information on different epigenetic modifications and associated factors are available, but clear maps of interconnected pathways are also emerging. This review deals with the salient epigenetic crosstalk mechanisms that cells utilize for different cellular processes and how deregulation or aberrant gene expression leads to disease progression.

Keywords::

• cancer
• constitutive heterochromatin
• epigenetic crosstalk
• facultative heterochromatin
• gene expression
• HIV infection

Author contributions

S Patra conceived the review. S Patra and S Manna conceptualized the review. S Manna and R Kirtana wrote the introduction, the section on cell cycle regulated pathways and the conclusion/future perspective, and also constructed the figures. The section on transcriptional regulation and ncRNA was written by T Baral. The section on centromere formation was written by A Roy. P Nandi wrote the section on X-inactivation. J Mishra wrote the section on epigenetic crosstalk leading to diseases and constructed the figures. S Chakraborty and Niharika performed literature survey and proofreading. S Patra edited and revised the manuscript.

Acknowledgments

S Manna, A Roy and Niharika are thankful to NIT-Rourkela for their fellowships under the Institute Research Scheme, NIT-Rourkela. R Kirtana receives a fellowship from CSIR, Govt. of India. T Baral, J Mishra, P Nandi and S Chakraborty receive fellowships from UGC. This work is supported in part by the Department of Bio-Technology (Government of India) project no. BT/PR21318/MED/12/742/2016 to S Patra and Department of Science and Technology SERB (Government of India) project no. EMR/2016/007034 to S Patra.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.