The role of lysine acetylation,histone acetyltransferases and bromocontaining proteins in cancer development

Abstract

Histone lysine acetylation is a key regulator of gene expression. Cancer manifests because of both genetic and epigenetic alterations. In several solid tumours and haematological malignancies the histone acetylation patterns are distorted as a result of various genetic or epigenetic changes. Reduced activity of histone lysine acetyltransferases (HATs) and/or increased activity on the wrong targets contribute to the development and progression of oncogenic transformation. Bromodomain containing proteins which recognize the histone acetylation marks are mistargeted or overexpressed in some cancer types. So far, a number of epidrugs has been designed to target the epigenetic modulators of histone lysine acetylation. Further investigation of the histone lysine acetylation and deacetylation pathways and their involvement in tumorigenesis will allow the development of more efficient epigenetic therapeutic approaches for specific cancer types