The meaning of the methylation of genomic DNA in the regulation of gene expression levels

Introduction: Methylation of genomic DNA is one of the major mechanisms that deactivates genes and regulates their tissue-specific transcription levels. Its patterns are based on clonal inheritance that occurs in the early stages of embryogenesis. All changes in the DNA methylation levels occurring especially in the promoter region of the genes, which involve hypo- as well as hyper-methylation, lead to cell differentiation and growth disorders. Therefore it can become an impulse that initiates different pathological processes including carcinogenesis.

Material and methods: The purpose of this review was to present the recent knowledge concerning methylation of genomic DNA based on recent references and authors' experience.

Results and conclusion: Genome stability disorders could be caused either by mutations, which damage the structure of the genes and have not been formerly removed, or as the consequence of an epigenetic mechanism. Methylation plays a decisive role in the activity of many genes and could be a natural weapon of an organism against the expression of foreign genetic material that degrades the original genome structure.

Methylation, Methyltransferases, Gene expression, Transcription silencing

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