A novel role of oncogenic RAS in gene silencing

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

RAS-MAPK signaling regulates cell growth and survival. It is abnormally activated in cancer cells and represses transcription of tumor-suppressive genes to enhance tumorigenesis of the cells. In this study, I investigated the molecular mechanism of RAS-mediated transcriptional repression. RAS-MAPK signaling increases the amount of a histone modification in transcriptionally repressed genes. The alteration of the histone modification occurs after alteration of transcription, suggesting that the histone modification functions to maintain transcriptionally repressed state. Furthermore, I identified three chromatin proteins, which are required for transcriptional repression.