SWItching on the transcriptional circuitry in melanoma

Epigenetics. 2010 Aug 16;5(6):469-75. doi: 10.4161/epi.5.6.12315. Epub 2010 Aug 16.

Abstract

Melanoma is an aggressive malignancy that is resistant to current therapy, and the most lethal of all human skin cancers. It is characterized by several genetic alterations that lead to changes in gene expression and tumorigenesis by triggering alterations in the normal transcriptional circuitry. Transformation and tumor progression are thought to be promoted by a complex interplay between the accumulation of genetic alterations and epigenetic changes. In this review, we discuss recent studies that have implicated SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling enzymes as epigenetic regulators of a transcriptional circuit that operates within the context the genetic alterations that frequently occur in melanoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / genetics*
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / physiology
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / genetics
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / metabolism
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / physiology*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / genetics*
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Models, Biological
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Skin Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Transcriptional Activation / genetics*
  • Transcriptional Activation / physiology

Substances

  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • SWI-SNF-B chromatin-remodeling complex
  • Transcription Factors