Ageing and cancer as diseases of epigenesis
Ageing and cancer as diseases of epigenesis
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DOI：
10.1007/s12038-009-0077-4
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发表时间：
2009-10-01
影响因子：
2.9
通讯作者：
Gilbert, Scott F.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Gilbert, Scott F.
癌症和老龄化通常被认为是发育疾病。在过去的五十年里，人们对癌症和衰老的遗传成分进行了深入的研究，因为发育本身被视为基因组的一种附带现象。然而，随着我们对基因组的表达有了更多的了解，我们发现表达的差异可以和等位基因的差异一样重要。通过甲基化使基因失活比通过突变更容易，鉴于适当的甲基化对正常发育是必不可少的，人们可以立即看到，疾病将是不适当的表观遗传甲基化的结果。虽然Boris Vanyushin于1973年首次提出，但最近的研究证实，不适当的甲基化不仅会导致疾病，而且可能是衰老和癌症的关键因素。
Cancer and ageing are often said to be diseases of development. During the past fifty years, the genetic components of cancer and ageing have been intensely investigated since development, itself, was seen to be an epiphenomenon of the genome. However, as we have learned more about the expression of the genome, we find that differences in expression can be as important as differences in alleles. It is easier to inactivate a gene by methylation than by mutation, and given that appropriate methylation is essential for normal development, one can immediately see that diseases would result as a consequence of inappropriate epigenetic methylation. While first proposed by Boris Vanyushin in 1973, recent studies have confirmed that inappropriate methylation not only causes diseases, and it also may be the critical factor in ageing and cancers.