Epigenetics and human diseases

Abstract

The term epigenetics defines heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve DNA sequence changes. DNA methylation and histone modifi cations are two important related mechanisms. DNA methylation alters chromatin structure and has been shown to have a direct effect on the silencing of genes and transposons. There are many post-traductional modifications on histones and an extra complexity comes from many sites and amino acids that may be modifi ed, what results in multiple matches in a real “histone code” decrypted by different cell factors. The epigenetics mechanisms are complex, and minor failing in the establishment and maintenance causes diseases, as genetics syndromes and cancer. Due to several diseases, an increasing amount of research has been realized to find drugs able to suppress these defects. Nowadays, there have already been described some medicines able to interfere in the action of the enzymes which regulate the epigenetic processes, however, there is still doubt in effectiveness of theses treatment. It is necessary additional research about epigenetics mechanism to, in the future, understand specific pathways and control the effects of these drugs.