Molecular Biology: Open Access

Reinhard H Dammann

Publications

• Research Article
  Aberrant DNA Methylation of Ribosomal RNA Genes in Human Cancer
  Author(s): Stefanie Teschler, Antje M Richter, Benedikt Linder and Reinhard H DammannStefanie Teschler, Antje M Richter, Benedikt Linder and Reinhard H Dammann
  
  Aberrant regulation of rRNA genes has been reported in human cancers. The aim of this study was to analyze the epigenetic regulation of rRNA genes in lung cancer and to correlate methylation levels of the promoter, 18S and 28S regions with different chromatin states. Here we report, that methylation of rDNA ranged from 10% to 30% at individual CpG sites in the promoter region. In primary lung cancers a 1.2-fold increased rDNA methylation was observed at 19 analyzed CpGs (p < 0.001). Moreover, we report an increased methylation level of rDNA towards the 28S region of rRNA genes. This hypermethylation was more pronounced in cancer cell lines compared to primary tissue. To analyze the methylation status of protein-enriched rDNA, we utilized a technique that combines ChIP and bisulfite sequencing. Pol I- and CTCF-associated rDNA exhibited reduced methylation levels compared to global r.. Read More»
  DOI: 10.4172/2168-9547.1000128

  Abstract PDF